tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710Fri, 11 Nov 2016 19:57:13 +0000IVFBusterawesome stuffsad faceREwtfPOASclinical trialpregnancyFETmusicPhotosKelseyblahAFdoctorBFNmiscarriageyearningbetaLEEPClomidIUIHenrychartfamilyhappy facetempsHPTsweight lossgiveawayovulationshoppingsymptomsfolliesneurosispuppiesFoodembryo transferinfertilitystressBDICLWDr. Sherpreggo paradeprogesteroneFemaraHarry PotternessProject RunwayOBGYNspermD and CTVcrankyembryo reportBravelleCervixFollistimbirth storyhospitalEWCMnerd alertreality TVsemen analysisBCPJasmineLovenoxantiphospholipid antibodiesimmunologynatural killer cellsphoto challengerandomnessunexplained infertilityDIYMenopurleftoversmotherhoodnurserysmokingspiderstriggerBLWFace OffHSGOPKsSTTNTwitteracupuncturealiensanxietybaby purchasesbelly photobirth controlbooksbreastfeedingchromosomal abnormalitiescouponingdaycaredopplerhahanestingnt scanpre-eclampsiasleepstretch markstriphasicbound by symmetry.fumbling through motherhood after infertilityhttp://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (unaffected)Blogger385125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-7924646776601391370Mon, 01 Aug 2016 15:51:00 +00002016-08-01T11:51:27.072-04:00Unfortunately, I have a new blogNot much there yet, but will be using it as a space for grieving:<br /><br />https://endlessnessthatyoufear.com/http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2016/08/unfortunately-i-have-new-blog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-4579335241663017151Fri, 19 Jun 2015 18:06:00 +00002015-06-19T14:06:11.642-04:00After 9 days of stims...I want to stab someone.<br /><br />Anyone.<br /><br /><br />I always think I can keep my emotions in check. I can rise above the hormones.<br /><br />I am wrong, always.<br /><br />Fuck this noise. I hate IVF. I don't want to do it anymore.http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2015/06/after-9-days-of-stims.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-5106427023433327407Tue, 31 Mar 2015 15:48:00 +00002015-03-31T11:48:21.541-04:00The NurserySo, here I am.<br /><br />I dropped off the face of the blogging world, as I really had nothing interesting to say. Only tortured artists produce the best work, right? Or at least in my case.<br /><br />But I'm back here, fighting the good fight. In a slightly different way.<br /><br />Yes, I have Henry, the love of my life. He's so amazing! And big. He turned 2 several months ago. And we've been trying for another baby for 15 months or so.<br /><br />I found out, while pregnant with Henry, that my new insurance covered three rounds of IVF. I was so incredibly certain that three rounds was overkill, and I would only need one. After all, it only took one official round (which included three frozen transfers) to become pregnant, stay pregnant, and have my little man.<br /><br />But as it typically goes in this infertility hell, our first two rounds of insurance-covered IVF cycles have not worked. We've had two fresh transfer, one frozen transfer. Transferred five embryos total. Had two chemicals (one that just wouldn't give up... slow rising betas... WHILE I WAS ON VACATION).<br /><br />I thought my local clinic could handle us. I switched from my awful RE to the younger RE in the practice. He is friendly and helpful, and makes me feel comfortable. But, unfortunately, I don't think he's experienced enough to deal with my non-diagnosis and mysterious infertility.<br /><br />So, with my last covered IVF cycle, we are switching clinics. Going to Shady Grove. Hoping that this is the answer.<br /><br />In the interim, I have a dilemma. What on earth do I do with the nursery furniture?<br /><br />Henry's big boy furniture will be here next week. His nursery furniture is super heavy. So, we decided to move the guest room furniture out of the guest room and down to the basement, and use the guest room for Henry's big boy room. And keep the nursery as is. Because, you know, I'd be pregnant any time now.<br /><br />But I'm not pregnant. And haven't even had my first appointment with Shady Grove.<br /><br />So, we can be those people. The ones who have a nursery set up for an imaginary baby. Even if I cycle in the coming months at Shady Grove, and it works, there won't be a baby for a year from now, most likely.<br /><br />We have guests coming to stay with us next month. Are we really going to make them sleep in the basement when we have an unused room, just housing baby furniture?<br /><br />This nursery furniture is stressing me out.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KWyTfGo9gv0/VRrAUqz7qEI/AAAAAAAACYc/SzuAJIJ3L3U/s1600/collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KWyTfGo9gv0/VRrAUqz7qEI/AAAAAAAACYc/SzuAJIJ3L3U/s1600/collage.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry's big boy room!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And some spam of my big boy, all taken in the past two weeks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OkQYJPo3Xm4/VRrA-mGHwCI/AAAAAAAACYk/OW7yoJPJYN4/s1600/032115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OkQYJPo3Xm4/VRrA-mGHwCI/AAAAAAAACYk/OW7yoJPJYN4/s1600/032115.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNbicygnU98/VRrA-jTgGgI/AAAAAAAACYs/NIys5zCk8wY/s1600/032115c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNbicygnU98/VRrA-jTgGgI/AAAAAAAACYs/NIys5zCk8wY/s1600/032115c.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qc72IBaekcQ/VRrA_J-3Y2I/AAAAAAAACY0/SnZo64W45mo/s1600/032615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qc72IBaekcQ/VRrA_J-3Y2I/AAAAAAAACY0/SnZo64W45mo/s1600/032615.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><br />http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-nursery.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-1837908020821281586Wed, 26 Jun 2013 15:30:00 +00002013-06-26T11:30:36.049-04:00BLWbreastfeedingHenrySTTNTwitterupdates: breastfeeding, STTN, solids<span style="font-size: large;">What's going well: breastfeeding</span><br /><br />I was incredibly worried that it wouldn't work out. I stressed over breastfeeding more than I did L&amp;D in my late months of pregnancy. Thankfully, we haven't had any real issues (other than a bout of mastitis... ugh). I pump at work twice a day, and nurse on demand at home. 5 1/2 months in, all is well.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">What's not going so well: sleeping</span><br /><br />Yes, that pesky "STTN" thing. It happened for five days in a row. Then, Henry got sick. He's been well for almost two weeks now, but he has not gone back to sleeping through. He's waking twice a night to nurse. I'm hoping it drops back down to once a night soon. Once is soooo much better than twice.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">What I'm most annoyed by: "Is he eating solids yet? NO??"</span><br /><br />People are so surprised when I say he's not yet eating solids. I have always planned to start him on solids at around 6 months, or when he shows me that he's definitely ready. So far, not really getting the cues to make me think he's ready.<br /><br />Also, we have decided to try <a href="http://www.babyledweaning.com/">Baby Led Weaning</a> (BLW). You should see people's faces when I tell them this.<br /><br />"So you are going to start off by feeding your baby CHUNKS of food?"<br /><br />"We fed our kids cereal starting at X months old!" (insert any number you wish, I've heard them all).<br /><br />"Won't they choke??!"<br /><br /><br />____________<br /><br />Random, but I started a Twitter account. Ok, I actually started the account months and months ago, just never used it. But I think I might start using it now. You can find me here:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/BoundBySymmetry">https://twitter.com/BoundBySymmetry</a><br /><br />or @BoundBySymmetry<br /><br /><br />http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/06/updates-breastfeeding-sttn-solids.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-4720861940311589124Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:23:00 +00002013-06-14T13:26:11.753-04:00HenrymotherhoodHenry: 5 monthsI'm a horrible blogger.<br /><br />Ever since going back to work, I just find myself completely unmotivated to blog. I think it has to do with me being so busy in every aspect of my life, I just can't get my brain to cooperate when it comes to penning a post.<br /><br />I've said this several times since Henry was born, but my brain is pretty much the consistency of mashed potatoes now.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hqv1BO-pwuM/UbtKENF1heI/AAAAAAAAB58/HVzXl5MZymI/s1600/gross_meals_5_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hqv1BO-pwuM/UbtKENF1heI/AAAAAAAAB58/HVzXl5MZymI/s1600/gross_meals_5_0.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those are mashed potatoes, in brain form.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Henry is now 5 months old.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/mobile%20uploads/CYMERA_20130608_120241_zps33d7bb1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/mobile%20uploads/CYMERA_20130608_120241_zps33d7bb1d.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry, 5 months old (June 2013)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/mobile%20uploads/IMAG1163_zps738fbcae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/mobile%20uploads/IMAG1163_zps738fbcae.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry and his cousin, going swimming for the first time! (June 2013)</td></tr></tbody></table>Time is really flying. He's rolling all over the place, so that's fun. And two weeks ago, out of the blue, he decided to start sleeping through the night. He had been waking once or twice a night to nurse, but all of the sudden he was a sleeper. Not sure how that happened, but I have a feeling that it has something to do with him rolling on his stomach to sleep.<br /><br />He wants to crawl. Bad. He sometimes whines and fusses when he's on his belly, and I know he wants to move. I'll put my hand behind him, and he'll push off and scoot across the floor. I figure it won't be long until he's crawling. Not sure I'm ready for that, but I am excited for it!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lY_d_zB_6_c/UbtN1Tph_6I/AAAAAAAAB6k/NLOAfWUrQS0/s1600/june2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lY_d_zB_6_c/UbtN1Tph_6I/AAAAAAAAB6k/NLOAfWUrQS0/s320/june2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi mom, please help me crawl. (June 2013)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Last week he caught his very first cold. It was HORRIBLE. Worst 5 days I've had since his birth... even rougher than that rough newborn phase. A sick baby is heartbreaking.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/mobile%20uploads/CYMERA_20130609_100012_zps79e3c2e7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/mobile%20uploads/CYMERA_20130609_100012_zps79e3c2e7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day before he really got sick... his temp was starting to run high.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hPrepA77vhg/UbtLxbueB4I/AAAAAAAAB6M/V1E1tndoEDY/s1600/061013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hPrepA77vhg/UbtLxbueB4I/AAAAAAAAB6M/V1E1tndoEDY/s400/061013.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My poor, sick baby.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He had a fever of 102/103 for a couple days, and he was so listless and sad. He also stopped sleeping through the night at that point, and only wanted mommy cuddles. So, we slept in the recliner together. Whatever I could do to help him get through it, I did! The cold turned in to an ear infection. So, he's on antibiotics. He's finally feeling better though. He has a lingering cough, and I'm so ready for that to be gone. It woke him up several times last night.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other than that, things are great! He's so much fun, and loves to laugh. Henry is such a happy baby. He loves his daddy so much, and smiles any time Buster walks in the room. This morning, they snoozed a bit in the big bed together:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6nqSl-wkNBw/UbtOqSzBJ_I/AAAAAAAAB6s/QS-2PNkHqzs/s1600/061413v5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6nqSl-wkNBw/UbtOqSzBJ_I/AAAAAAAAB6s/QS-2PNkHqzs/s320/061413v5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Today, Buster and I celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. We are so incredibly fortunate and very thankful for all that we have together. I am one lucky lady!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/mobile%20uploads/CYMERA_20130607_175828_zps29aacc0e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/mobile%20uploads/CYMERA_20130607_175828_zps29aacc0e.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 2013</td></tr></tbody></table><br />And on an aside, it was three years ago to the day when I <a href="http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2010/06/welcome-to-my-blog.html">wrote my first blog post</a>, thus beginning my blogging adventure. So much has changed since then, but so much is still the same:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>"We knew when we met that we would be married. He is my best friend, and I could not imagine my life without this man. He knows what I'm thinking and feeling. He knows why I laugh and how to make me smile. We sing silly songs and laugh together. Laughing is my favorite hobby."</i></span></div>http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/06/henry-5-months.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-9215865919273631569Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:19:00 +00002013-04-30T15:19:04.365-04:00clinical trialembryo transferhappy faceHenryIVFone year ago.One year ago, we transferred a beautiful day-6 expanded blastocyst. Today, Henry is 3 1/2 months old. And he is the light of my life.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPEREzjB-uU/UYAVbCALazI/AAAAAAAAByY/UDMW6_ioxHo/s1600/one_year_ago.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPEREzjB-uU/UYAVbCALazI/AAAAAAAAByY/UDMW6_ioxHo/s400/one_year_ago.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry, then and now.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/04/one-year-ago_30.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-4608079002189632910Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:28:00 +00002013-04-26T10:28:43.260-04:00HenrynurseryHenry's nurseryThis post is incredibly overdue. All the way back in October, I posted the <a href="http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2012/10/plan-nursery.html">plan for Henry's nursery</a>. And although I loved that storyboard, only one thing pictured in there is actually in Henry's nursery.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eA8CQ88rXwQ/UGxEGHnMgjI/AAAAAAAABTU/yvlwZrYYvjM/s1600/nursery_styleboard_horiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eA8CQ88rXwQ/UGxEGHnMgjI/AAAAAAAABTU/yvlwZrYYvjM/s400/nursery_styleboard_horiz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The one item that made it is the Henry shelf. And the nursery is not actually completely finished. I still need some wall art, and I'd like a lamp. But for the most part, it's in working order.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zSlWXsUZIX0/UXqND-f6eJI/AAAAAAAABxs/laesGRt-Ggk/s1600/Henry_Newborn056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zSlWXsUZIX0/UXqND-f6eJI/AAAAAAAABxs/laesGRt-Ggk/s320/Henry_Newborn056.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br />I was borderline obsessed with getting a gray crib. And when you Google it, the most popular gray crib is the Oeuf Sparrow crib. It's $760. Instead, I had found a gray crib from Walmart that I was set on purchasing.<br /><br />But then... plans go awry. My aunt and uncle offered to give us my cousin's old nursery furniture. It was white, which wasn't my first choice for crib. But, it was free. And in AMAZING condition. This was some quality furniture! So, instead of purchasing furniture, we were given a crib, changing table/dresser, and an armoire.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SdlhNRBD_EY/UXqJqFo2mZI/AAAAAAAABwE/1NGAUvVZZBk/s1600/Henry_Newborn050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SdlhNRBD_EY/UXqJqFo2mZI/AAAAAAAABwE/1NGAUvVZZBk/s320/Henry_Newborn050.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crib and changing table/dresser.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />As for the glider.... that was a huge decision. I waffled back and forth if I would even need one, since we have a rocker recliner in the living room. In the end, I (finally) found an affordable gray one that I liked on Amazon. Without ever having sat in it, I ordered it. And I couldn't be happier!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd7AJYwaYsQ/UXqJ2BcZKuI/AAAAAAAABwM/4tvO6gMeQAs/s1600/Henry_Newborn053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd7AJYwaYsQ/UXqJ2BcZKuI/AAAAAAAABwM/4tvO6gMeQAs/s320/Henry_Newborn053.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br />Instead of the cute chevron crib sheet and crib skirt, my grandparents bought us a crib skirt and several sheets from Pottery Barn. I wouldn't have spent the money on them myself, but sure, I'll accept the gift! They also got us a crib blanket and rug (bye bye chevron rug idea)... and all of the sudden, our nursery theme went from only colors/patterns to elephants!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cOWAfO4jN00/UXqKSzYrr7I/AAAAAAAABwU/jkaNjLzAaS4/s1600/Henry_Newborn029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cOWAfO4jN00/UXqKSzYrr7I/AAAAAAAABwU/jkaNjLzAaS4/s320/Henry_Newborn029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hm8fhyJXKYU/UXqKTb_Q-XI/AAAAAAAABwc/poq3QLzRIZM/s1600/Henry_Newborn055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hm8fhyJXKYU/UXqKTb_Q-XI/AAAAAAAABwc/poq3QLzRIZM/s320/Henry_Newborn055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYmwRTcwv5s/UXqKl0-bf6I/AAAAAAAABwk/M6s6f_bVWXM/s1600/Henry_Newborn033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYmwRTcwv5s/UXqKl0-bf6I/AAAAAAAABwk/M6s6f_bVWXM/s320/Henry_Newborn033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8SECHwp1bSs/UXqLMAA8WxI/AAAAAAAABws/hAWkWP-RuGQ/s1600/Henry_Newborn145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8SECHwp1bSs/UXqLMAA8WxI/AAAAAAAABws/hAWkWP-RuGQ/s320/Henry_Newborn145.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Curtains... ugh. Curtains were the most difficult thing to find. Back when I was planning the nursery, gray and yellow decor items were more difficult to find. So, I found a fabric I liked online, and we had curtains made. Of course now, Target has some lovely gray, yellow, white, and tan chevron curtains that would have been perfect (and much more affordable), but oh well. We had curtains, a pillow, and a changing pad cover made out of the elephant fabric.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k2CmVJGLGJs/UXqMjm63JvI/AAAAAAAABxU/oc1AT6bB5p4/s1600/Henry_Newborn032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k2CmVJGLGJs/UXqMjm63JvI/AAAAAAAABxU/oc1AT6bB5p4/s320/Henry_Newborn032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lmCPlSirxbc/UXqLvGz82lI/AAAAAAAABw0/mR-k8ir50eg/s1600/Henry_Newborn052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lmCPlSirxbc/UXqLvGz82lI/AAAAAAAABw0/mR-k8ir50eg/s320/Henry_Newborn052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vv4S2khFXJ4/UXqMFkc78LI/AAAAAAAABw8/q6dQNMUAXzE/s1600/Henry_Newborn054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vv4S2khFXJ4/UXqMFkc78LI/AAAAAAAABw8/q6dQNMUAXzE/s320/Henry_Newborn054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />And finally, we purchased a white cube shelf that was fairly inexpensive. I tracked down some yellow fabric bins for the cubes, and our bookshelf was complete!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZQ7ObszFW4/UXqMi76PehI/AAAAAAAABxM/yv1cckh-wxQ/s1600/Henry_Newborn031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZQ7ObszFW4/UXqMi76PehI/AAAAAAAABxM/yv1cckh-wxQ/s320/Henry_Newborn031.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HUIVjbJFQ2g/UXqMlQpeXmI/AAAAAAAABxk/lrpwO9ODpBY/s1600/Henry_Newborn058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HUIVjbJFQ2g/UXqMlQpeXmI/AAAAAAAABxk/lrpwO9ODpBY/s320/Henry_Newborn058.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RNT_4HfYHv4/UXqMkryB_uI/AAAAAAAABxc/OjnVcqJZLUw/s1600/Henry_Newborn057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RNT_4HfYHv4/UXqMkryB_uI/AAAAAAAABxc/OjnVcqJZLUw/s320/Henry_Newborn057.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wFPk3x0PowQ/UXqMiUSBoSI/AAAAAAAABxE/4wCCWNMKsrU/s1600/Henry_Newborn027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wFPk3x0PowQ/UXqMiUSBoSI/AAAAAAAABxE/4wCCWNMKsrU/s320/Henry_Newborn027.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br />Oh, and something not pictured... the mobile. I loved the elephant one from Etsy that is in the storyboard above, but we didn't want to spend quite that much. Instead, I got a paper circle mobile from Etsy for about half the cost. Here's a photo from the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/117269400/modern-nursery-decor-crib-mobile-for">Etsy listing</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wgnxp7WHw8s/UXqN6gY6x2I/AAAAAAAABx4/9dYW51QKBJw/s1600/il_570xN.404137007_hf0y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wgnxp7WHw8s/UXqN6gY6x2I/AAAAAAAABx4/9dYW51QKBJw/s320/il_570xN.404137007_hf0y.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><br /><br />So imagine that hanging over the crib.<br /><br />I am very pleased with how it turned out! Someday I really need to get some wall art up, though. You know, before Henry grows up and moves out!http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/04/henrys-nursery.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-2145062558907633765Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:07:00 +00002013-04-09T16:07:48.641-04:00infertilityDogged by infertilityOur health insurance premiums increased this year. No surprise there, right?<br /><br />Well, they went up 12%. And in January, after Henry's arrival, I switched to the family plan. So thanks to the increase and my need for the family plan, I am now spending over $20,000 a year on health insurance.<br /><br />Yes, you read that correctly. TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.<br /><br />I also live in one of the poorest states in the country.<br /><br />Something isn't adding up here.<br /><br />I blogged a while back about how I was excited that my insurance covers IVF. Well, that's great and all, but I'm spending an arm and a leg for this fucking coverage. They better cover IVF!<br /><br />So, I started looking in to individual insurance (versus group plans). I got an incredibly reasonable quote online from BCBS that would save us over $1,100 a month. And I applied.<br /><br />Time was of the essence, as my open enrollment period is, well, this week. Ends on Friday.<br /><br />I heard back today from BCBS. Buster and Henry were approved, but I was denied.<br /><br />Reason?<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Infertility.</span><br /><br />This plan I applied for doesn't even have fertility coverage! Why in the fuck would they deny me for infertility if they don't even cover the treatments I would need to help me get pregnant?<br /><br />All of this is a crock of shit.<br /><br />However, I think we are going to go ahead and move Buster and Henry on to their own plan, and keep me on my plan through work. We will save about $800 a month, which is awesome. But I'm still annoyed.http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/04/dogged-by-infertility.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-4149945743948035223Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:42:00 +00002013-03-21T14:42:19.182-04:00Henrysleepthe sleep conundrumLet's talk sleep. Or lack thereof.<br /><br />Henry doesn't sleep through the night. Never has even come close. Yes, I know technically they say sleeping through the night is six hours, right? The longest we get is four. And that's few and far between.<br /><br />And this isn't even my chief concern.<br /><br />Would I like for him to sleep longer stretches? Of course. But more importantly, I'd be happy if he would sleep somewhere other than in our arms. Ok, who am I kidding. I want them both.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy cuddling with my boy. I love it so much that when he falls asleep in my arms, I just let him stay there. Trying to move a sleeping baby is terrifying. Plus, he's like a little space heater, and we stay warm and cozy when we snuggle.<br /><br />Last night, because I missed him all day long so much, I didn't mind him sleeping in my arms. But then I get this nagging feeling like I'm doing something wrong by doing this. I don't know why, and I don't know where it comes from.<br /><br />Perhaps because everyone else's babies sleep through the night, in their own cribs, and have been from the minute they came home from the hospital.<br /><br />Doesn't it seem like that, when you have a baby who doesn't do these things?<br /><br />Henry has slept in his swing, his Rock 'n Play (RNP) and in our arms since he's come home from the hospital. In the first 9 weeks of his life, it was easy to transfer him from arms to swing or RNP without him waking. But as of late, that is impossible. And I don't know how to fix it.<br /><br />If I didn't have to do laundry, wash pump parts and bottles, pick out my work clothes for the next day, and sleep, I wouldn't mind holding him constantly. But sometimes a girl has to get things done.<br /><br />We've also tried to get him to sleep in the Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper Bassinet, but that didn't work. He wasn't having it, so I gave up. I should probably try that again, but I feel so uncertain about any of this.<br /><br />I don't know what to do, and I don't know how to do it. The woes of a first-time mom.<br /><br />And now that I'm back at work, I find myself not wanting to do anything other than just letting him sleep where he will, since I desperately need sleep as well.<br /><br />I purchased a <a href="http://amzn.com/B00A2JBMRE">sound machine</a> that has a white noise setting. I purchased a <a href="http://amzn.com/B001GQ2SA2">mobile with great reviews</a>. We have set up the baby monitor. And I'm such a chickenshit that I have yet to figure out what to do with all these tools. Or use them effectively.<br /><br />About two weeks ago, I decided I was going to get Henry to sleep in the co-sleeper. So I got the sound machine, set up the co-sleeper to be efficient (before we had it by the bed, but below the nightstand. This proved problematic when wanting to get in and out of bed.), had Buster move the glider into our bedroom, plugged in a nightlight, and set up a make-shift changing area.<br /><br />We tried for two days. And I gave up.<br /><br />It's so much easier to do our shifts. That way, I am guaranteed about four hours of good, quality sleep (this four hours is not concurrent). When Buster comes to bed, I get up and head out to the living room with Henry, the swing, RNP, recliner, and TV.<br /><br />But now that I'm back to work, and Buster is taking Henry to daycare, he can't stay up quite as late as before. Last night he came to bed at 12:30 a.m. This is a far cry from the nights where he'd stay out there with Henry until 4:00 a.m.<br /><br />So I went out with Henry at 12:30 a.m. He was sleeping in his swing at that point (YAY!), and slept there until 1:30 a.m. He woke up, I nursed him, and he fell asleep in my arms in the recliner. We both slept there until Henry woke up hungry at 4:15 a.m. We both fell asleep again until about 6:45 a.m.<br /><br />I get sleep this way. So does Henry. But for me, it's not very good sleep. It's sitting up in a recliner, with my head tilted and leaning on my shoulder, contortionist-style. But it's guaranteed sleep, where any other arrangement is not.<br /><br />Maybe Henry will grow out of the sleeping-in-my-arms thing? Or maybe he won't, and I'm making everything more difficult on myself by just letting him. I know he's too young for sleep training, and I'm not sure that appeals to me in general. I just wish there was a magic button I could press, or a magic age where he would just sleep peacefully, all night long, wherever I put him.<br /><br />Keep dreaming, right? But I don't even sleep long enough to dream.http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-sleep-conundrum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-1365678174822809050Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:28:00 +00002013-03-20T11:28:53.572-04:00daycareHenrymy returnToday, the first day of spring, marks my return to work.<br /><br />Spring is lovely, work is not.<br /><br />I cried on my way here. Buster took Henry to daycare, so I said my goodbyes at home. He was sound asleep in his car seat, ready to be loaded in Buster's truck (it has a full backseat, don't worry!).<br /><br />I miss Henry terribly. I haven't decided if I will pick him up after work or if Buster will. Typically, Buster will be doing it, since it would add an extra hour or so onto my evening commute. I could technically see and cuddle Henry sooner if Buster had him home already by the time I get home, so that's the plan &nbsp;for most days.<br /><br />But today I may pick him up, just to hear first-hand from M (the lady who will be watching Henry at her in-home daycare) how he did. You know how getting information from a man is... difficult, to say the least.<br /><br />So not only have I returned to work, but this also marks a return to blogging for me. It was extremely difficult for me to find the time to pen a post while being at home with Henry these past ten weeks (yes, it's been TEN weeks already!). But now that I'm back at work, and forced to sit in front of a computer, I will be blogging!<br /><br />I've missed this space, and I'm looking forward to filling any remaining readers in on how the past ten weeks have been for us!<br /><br />Here are some Henry photos from the last month:<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3hYha7hts9Q/UUnUsxQbvpI/AAAAAAAABvI/8Fj0jmMlOfQ/s1600/6+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3hYha7hts9Q/UUnUsxQbvpI/AAAAAAAABvI/8Fj0jmMlOfQ/s320/6+weeks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6 weeks old</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQDyPDRAbkg/UUnUs_9uHBI/AAAAAAAABu8/MbdlPBr43ZA/s1600/7+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQDyPDRAbkg/UUnUs_9uHBI/AAAAAAAABu8/MbdlPBr43ZA/s320/7+weeks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7 weeks old</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FbXe03xdpeE/UUnUsyCjHGI/AAAAAAAABvA/OR2lFf5qB54/s1600/8+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FbXe03xdpeE/UUnUsyCjHGI/AAAAAAAABvA/OR2lFf5qB54/s320/8+weeks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 months old!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YI3E-r6j4lM/UUnUtGkRvxI/AAAAAAAABvE/MxKZqtLqAls/s1600/8+weeks3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YI3E-r6j4lM/UUnUtGkRvxI/AAAAAAAABvE/MxKZqtLqAls/s400/8+weeks3.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this picture.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/03/my-return.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-2206935774244186787Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:04:00 +00002013-02-11T16:04:01.989-05:00HenrymotherhoodWhere did the last month go?It's really been a month since Henry made his debut. It feels both like no time at all has passed, and years have passed.<br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ihC7AZKs8AQ/URe2HQO9GQI/AAAAAAAABeE/MxJ4aCM603w/s1600/h_020913c_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ihC7AZKs8AQ/URe2HQO9GQI/AAAAAAAABeE/MxJ4aCM603w/s400/h_020913c_sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry - one month old.</td></tr></tbody></table><div>This past month has been quite the learning experience. Every day I'm learning many new things, not only about being a mom, but also about my baby boy's personality. It's been a difficult but wonderful time.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u>Breastfeeding</u></span><br /><br />Prior to Henry's birth, I practically had myself convinced that for whatever reason, I wouldn't be able to breastfeed. I think because I wanted to be able to do it so badly, my subconscious would not let me believe that it would work out for me.<br /><br />Luckily, my subconscious was wrong. Breastfeeding has been going really well! Sure, it was incredibly tough in the beginning. My milk didn't come in until day 4 or 5. Henry was not having the sufficient amount of wet and poopy diapers, and he was looking quite jaundiced. A call to my pediatrician resulted in us supplementing with formula for a day and a half.<br /><br />I won't lie, hormonal me cried like a baby when I hung up with the pediatrician. I felt like I was failing. Buster couldn't understand why I reacted the way I did, and it was hard to explain without sounding like a nutcase. So we supplemented. About half of the formula ran down his chin, as he was still so new at the sucking thing. But after his first poop since the hospital, I decided to stop with the formula. I made a mom-call. His diapers were now on par, and the formula seemed to give him really bad gas. Plus, my milk came in.<br /><br />And since then, it's been relatively smooth sailing. Well, I did have one 24-hour period of severe engorgement that left me in tears and shaking with an elevated temperature. After crying my way through a phone call to the hospital's lactation consultant, I started a regimen of rest, nursing my tits off, ibuprofen, and cabbage leaves. The next day, things were much better. Thankfully. That is some horrible, unexpected pain!<br /><br />Henry was 8lbs 5oz at birth (Wednesday). When we left the hospital (Friday), he was 7lbs 14oz. At his first checkup on Tuesday, he was 7lbs 15oz. One week later at his two-week checkup, he was 8lbs 7oz. And I believe he has been steadily climbing since. His one-month checkup is this coming Tuesday, and I'm so excited to see how much he weighs!<br /><br />I've also started pumping a bit. I was so intimidated of my pump at first, but it's much easier than I thought it would be. The most annoying thing about it is washing the parts, but that's unavoidable. I've started a freezer stash, and so far have 12 whole ounces in there! I have about ten ounces in the fridge as well, which will allow me to run to Target in a bit.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u>Sleep</u></span><br /><br />Well, sleep has been a bit elusive. I was hardly sleeping in the first week or so that Henry was home. Buster had to yell at me (literally) and force me to sleep. It's so hard to remember to take care of yourself in those early days.<br /><br />One thing that makes sleep difficult for me is that I'm not a napper. I never have been. It is so hard for me to sleep when it's daylight. I'm some kind of reverse vampire, apparently.<br /><br />Because Buster was so intent on me getting sleep, we have gotten ourselves into some weird kind of schedule: we take shifts. Buster loves naps, so he usually takes one in the late evening (anywhere between 5-9pm). Then, he gets up. And I go to sleep in the bed, while he stays in the living room with Henry (where the swing and the Rock N Play are, Henry's favorite sleep spots). So I'll sleep until Henry is ready to eat, and then come out to the living room and nurse. I then pass Henry back off to Buster for burping/diapering, and I return to the bedroom. This goes on until about 4am, when Buster and I switch. I come out to the living room, and Buster goes to sleep until about 10:30 am.<br /><br />It's not ideal. Buster and I haven't slept in the same bed at the same time for over a month. And that's pretty brutal. But when we did try (in the beginning), it was too soon for me. I found myself staring at Henry, making sure he was breathing, while he slept in the co-sleeper beside the bed. No rest could be had for me. So that's why we went with shift work.<br /><br />I think I am finally comfortable enough with Henry sleeping to try the bedroom routine again. We just haven't gotten around to it. Hopefully soon, because I'd love to cuddle a little with my husband!<br /><br />As far as Henry's sleep... well for the first time ever, he slept for four straight hours last night. Before that, his longest stretches were 3ish hours. Honestly, it would be nice if he slept longer, but I'm not that worried about it. Maybe I should be, and maybe I will be, but right now I just feed on demand and go with the flow. I think when I return to work (in 4-6 weeks...not sure exactly when yet) I'll be more concerned with him sleeping longer stretches at night, but for now I don't mind getting up to nurse. Plus, my boobs refuse to let me go longer than 3 1/2 hours anyway.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u>Post-partum Issues</u></span><br /><br />If you recall from my birth story, I tore a little and was cut a little, and required three stitches. I (obviously) have not had my 6-month checkup yet, but I think that things are going well down there. I'm not having any pain, so I like to think things are right on track as far as healing.<br /><br />I'm still spotting a little, but it's really few and far between.<br /><br />Emotionally, I've been feeling pretty great. There are fleeting moments when I'm super tired that I feel overly emotional and cranky, but that can be easily remedied with sleep. Buster has been such a huge help around here, and I think that's really played a part in keeping me sane.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u>Weight Loss</u></span><br /><br />As a reminder, I gained 60lbs during my pregnancy. And when I got pregnant, I was 20lbs heavier than my ideal weight. So far, I have lost 32 of the 60lbs gained during pregnancy. I'm not eating incredibly well (pretty much just eating whatever, whenever I have time), and no exercise yet. After my 6-week appointment, I hope to start exercising. I'd like to start back up with my 30-Day Shred since it's only a 30-minute workout. But we'll see.<br /><br />My goal is to be back down to my pre-pregnancy weight by July, as we will be heading to the beach then. And if I just so happened to be down to my pre-IVF weight, well that would just be icing on the (low-fat) cake.<br /><br />Here is a comparison pic of pregnancy vs 3 weeks post-partum:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-br-A5dGdsSk/URlaX6QwkdI/AAAAAAAABhE/cqIKnSENF8Y/s1600/3wksPP_comparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-br-A5dGdsSk/URlaX6QwkdI/AAAAAAAABhE/cqIKnSENF8Y/s320/3wksPP_comparison.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •</span><br /><br />Here are some photos of Henry from his first month of life:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkHHS0SgK7E/URlTbxXP0lI/AAAAAAAABeg/Uaumju_XNyk/s1600/H_011313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkHHS0SgK7E/URlTbxXP0lI/AAAAAAAABeg/Uaumju_XNyk/s400/H_011313.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 days old!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wb0P398mOco/URlX-zEKprI/AAAAAAAABgs/o71vXVnVlqE/s1600/henry_day5b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wb0P398mOco/URlX-zEKprI/AAAAAAAABgs/o71vXVnVlqE/s320/henry_day5b.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 days old</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T4FAkZZFPhg/URlTbxZezlI/AAAAAAAABec/fzolAU_djPI/s1600/H_1_17_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T4FAkZZFPhg/URlTbxZezlI/AAAAAAAABec/fzolAU_djPI/s400/H_1_17_13.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">milk coma! 8 days old.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V-kahgSZBmw/URlTcq8wOeI/AAAAAAAABes/t3Jfdj-6emY/s1600/H_1_17_13c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V-kahgSZBmw/URlTcq8wOeI/AAAAAAAABes/t3Jfdj-6emY/s400/H_1_17_13c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8 days old - cheeky monkey!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjAQCwl2Ev0/URlTdJ6TUQI/AAAAAAAABew/X51wDMh_BMg/s1600/h_011813d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjAQCwl2Ev0/URlTdJ6TUQI/AAAAAAAABew/X51wDMh_BMg/s400/h_011813d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9 days old - Kelsey checking on her little brother.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mnR61fIW3Ws/URlU3ZnSoyI/AAAAAAAABfY/apX3Ftbteqo/s1600/Henry_Newborn002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mnR61fIW3Ws/URlU3ZnSoyI/AAAAAAAABfY/apX3Ftbteqo/s400/Henry_Newborn002.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9 days old - from his newborn photos&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKdCgV5Dc7Q/URlU32BgPzI/AAAAAAAABfo/eIytcJHhmwQ/s1600/Henry_Newborn124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKdCgV5Dc7Q/URlU32BgPzI/AAAAAAAABfo/eIytcJHhmwQ/s400/Henry_Newborn124.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D4rv81ApLWU/URlU4cqeP9I/AAAAAAAABfw/Hk7i5sYv4uM/s1600/Henry_Newborn141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D4rv81ApLWU/URlU4cqeP9I/AAAAAAAABfw/Hk7i5sYv4uM/s400/Henry_Newborn141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Kh3T29iAIc/URlU42N0_HI/AAAAAAAABf4/lcvEGdvzA3o/s1600/Henry_Newborn146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Kh3T29iAIc/URlU42N0_HI/AAAAAAAABf4/lcvEGdvzA3o/s400/Henry_Newborn146.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LjWaswSfY-A/URlU5OZl2eI/AAAAAAAABgA/33ZqoEcQrqw/s1600/Henry_Newborn156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LjWaswSfY-A/URlU5OZl2eI/AAAAAAAABgA/33ZqoEcQrqw/s400/Henry_Newborn156.jpg" width="400" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rtmWGt2nw5k/URlTcwROELI/AAAAAAAABe4/rVWHAPVlj6s/s1600/H_011813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rtmWGt2nw5k/URlTcwROELI/AAAAAAAABe4/rVWHAPVlj6s/s400/H_011813.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9 days old - sleepy after his photo shoot!</td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/IMG_20130120_122122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/IMG_20130120_122122.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11 days old</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RtD5xxYxr3c/URlTdk_yJaI/AAAAAAAABfA/VKoiCehAk4I/s1600/h_012813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RtD5xxYxr3c/URlTdk_yJaI/AAAAAAAABfA/VKoiCehAk4I/s400/h_012813.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">19 days old</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WdoiuMyZnrM/URlTdXXZopI/AAAAAAAABfE/0uARJziyLA8/s1600/h_020713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WdoiuMyZnrM/URlTdXXZopI/AAAAAAAABfE/0uARJziyLA8/s400/h_020713.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 weeks old - sweet dreams!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><br /></div>http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/02/where-did-last-month-go.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-372936561148279269Mon, 28 Jan 2013 02:33:00 +00002013-01-27T21:33:08.283-05:00birth storyHenrypregnancyHenry's birth story, part four: the arrival<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(Please note: there are birth photos in this post, including some of Henry with some gunk on him. You have been warned! And check out parts <a href="http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/henrys-birth-story-part-one-prelude.html">one</a>, <a href="http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/henrys-birth-story-part-two-should-i.html">two</a> and <a href="http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/henrys-birth-story-part-three-my-own.html">three</a>, if you haven't already.)</i></span><br /><br />Getting to my own room was quite a relief. However, by this time, I barely knew where I was. The contractions were close together and so, so painful. It was all I could do to get through them!<br /><br />After getting set up in my bed, hooked up the blood pressure cuff and the stupid NST monitors (I say stupid because, well, they became ridiculously annoying as my contractions increased in intensity and became closer together. My stomach would tighten up to an inconceivable point, and the straps for the monitors seemed to make each contraction worse.), my nurse decided to check me again. It was about 12:10 p.m. And I was dilated to 8cm.<br /><br />I looked at my nurse and said, "It's too late for an epidural, isn't it?"<br /><br />For the life of me, I cannot recall how she responded.<br /><br />Soon after I got in my room, my mom came in to check on me. She stayed for a few minutes, but during my next contraction she headed back out to the waiting room (which was fine by me!! She stresses me out a bit...). My friend and photographer had also arrived by this time, and she was posted up by the entrance to the room.<br /><br />I continued laboring in bed, hooked up to the NST monitors, for the next twenty minutes.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yXsEx7DlZWk/UQWuQSM_URI/AAAAAAAABZo/Q_BLhVCIBa8/s1600/HenryBirth_020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yXsEx7DlZWk/UQWuQSM_URI/AAAAAAAABZo/Q_BLhVCIBa8/s400/HenryBirth_020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So that's why the rails are there... for gripping the shit out of.</td></tr></tbody></table>During that time, my nurse hooked another bag of something up to me. I didn't know until after she had it going that it was Fentanyl. My doctor came in at that point as well, and told me that it would help to relax me during contractions, but wouldn't help with the pain of contractions. That seems useless, right? But apparently my doc thought I was tensing up too much during contractions, and wanted to try to get me to relax somehow.<br /><br />The Fentanyl made me sleepy in between contractions. I would shut my eyes, and then open them to Buster saying, "Keep your eyes open! Focus on me." I did not understand for the life of me why I couldn't shut my eyes in between contractions! I got a little mad at him, but there wasn't much time to be upset. I think it freaked him out when I shut my eyes. I guess he wanted me to focus on the task at hand.<br /><br />At 12:30 p.m., I told my nurse that I needed to push. She decided to check me again, and all that remained of my cervix was a little lip. She wanted me to do a practice push on my next contraction to see how much of baby she could feel. My very first push was probably pretty weak, honestly. I had no idea what I was doing. My nurse just kept repeating, "Push like you are having a bowel movement," and I did my best. But, the push did the trick, and she could feel Henry's head. It was go time, and she went to get the doctor.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvVweO4-Yfw/UQWwdmBjGpI/AAAAAAAABZ8/mfEDDvRWYe4/s1600/HenryBirth_055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvVweO4-Yfw/UQWwdmBjGpI/AAAAAAAABZ8/mfEDDvRWYe4/s400/HenryBirth_055.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the stupid NST monitor strap?? The bane of my existence.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />My doctor came in, and on the next contraction we did another practice push (and being such a noob, I didn't realize this was how it worked. I thought when you got to the pushing portion of labor, you just pushed like hell until baby came out. I didn't realize you only pushed on contractions. Like I said, I was a noob!). My doctor was amazing, by the way. He was so nonchalant and laid back, but also comforting. I don't think he was expecting me to really be ready to push at this point. But after my first practice push with him, I think he realized that baby Henry wasn't messing around, and was ready to make his arrival. It was now 12:40 p.m.<div><div><br /></div><div>After one more push, I motioned to my photographer friend to head back behind my bed (she had mentioned to me earlier that she wanted to be back there before Henry was born, as she liked that angle). I thought if she waited much longer, she might miss her opportunity!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_1hFewfNc0/UQWxvdWrLaI/AAAAAAAABaQ/x-M0thIlluc/s1600/HenryBirth_068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_1hFewfNc0/UQWxvdWrLaI/AAAAAAAABaQ/x-M0thIlluc/s400/HenryBirth_068.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />I continued pushing during contractions, while my doctor became incredibly focused on me pushing for a longer length of time that what I was currently doing. He wanted me to push until he counted to ten...I had only been getting to about count three or four. So he started counting to ten on each push, and that was so incredibly helpful. Without that, I probably would have been pushing for days! But he was able to get me pushing for longer than I thought I could.<br /><br />And let me just say right here how amazing my husband was through all of this. By the time I was pushing, I was no longer grabbing and squeezing his hand (I had moved on to white-knuckling the rails on the bed). So during each push, Buster would lean down and tell me how great I was doing, and how proud of me he was. And he would encourage me to keep pushing to ten. It was really just what I needed. Pushing is really hard work, and having him tell me how proud of me he was gave me extra strength.<br /><br />At one point during one contraction and pushing session, my doctor noticed how tight my belly was getting and how the stupid NST monitor was cutting into me, and told the nurse to remove it. I could have kissed him.<br /><br />A couple times, I had to stop pushing before I got to ten. I just ran out of breath and energy. During one hellacious push, my doctor had Buster walk around and look to see his son's head. My doctor's motivation was that Buster would then be able to get me to push a bit harder.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3p6YMM2w8GU/UQW5zEnYG-I/AAAAAAAABak/YKjk0iZ49os/s1600/HenryBirth_081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3p6YMM2w8GU/UQW5zEnYG-I/AAAAAAAABak/YKjk0iZ49os/s400/HenryBirth_081.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My doctor showing me how much of Henry's head he can see. I responded with, "That's all??"</td></tr></tbody></table>As you can see from the above photo, the doctor showed me how much of Henry's head he saw on that last push. And you can also see the one nurse holding my foot. My other foot was on my doctor's side, like so:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ludyok1K4Bs/UQW6Okt6N4I/AAAAAAAABas/Bfamwpf6wmQ/s1600/HenryBirth_078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ludyok1K4Bs/UQW6Okt6N4I/AAAAAAAABas/Bfamwpf6wmQ/s400/HenryBirth_078.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />My doc had me grab the inside of my thighs during pushes, so that I could really bear down. Once I started doing that, things moved more quickly. After Buster saw Henry's head (and all that hair!!), a new, reinvigorated look was on his face... he was so excited to meet his son!<br /><br />Two minutes and one brutally intense push later, I felt my son being expelled from my body. The time was 1:15 p.m.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMsTBqzQzuA/UQW7ifr4sWI/AAAAAAAABbA/mxVS4cvAtxw/s1600/HenryBirth_084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMsTBqzQzuA/UQW7ifr4sWI/AAAAAAAABbA/mxVS4cvAtxw/s400/HenryBirth_084.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry's first seconds on this earth.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JvcYxoDD6is/UQW7imrVgpI/AAAAAAAABbI/POL4sXf9oqQ/s1600/HenryBirth_085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JvcYxoDD6is/UQW7imrVgpI/AAAAAAAABbI/POL4sXf9oqQ/s400/HenryBirth_085.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry giving a good cry... it's cold out here!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />What an amazing moment. I think I was in shock. Buster cried almost instantly (you can see in the above photo that his jaw is locked... that's a tell-tale sign he's about to shed a tear!), but all I could do was to smile and look at my baby boy in awe.<br /><br />My doctor used the aspirator to get the gunk out of his nose and mouth, and set him on my chest with the umbilical cord still attached (per my request... delayed cord clamping, remember?!).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ui76g-Q6dic/UQW97G8SbxI/AAAAAAAABbc/6i4hipqI_CE/s1600/HenryBirth_086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ui76g-Q6dic/UQW97G8SbxI/AAAAAAAABbc/6i4hipqI_CE/s400/HenryBirth_086.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YtY115FGrWk/UQW97b1qTSI/AAAAAAAABbg/BU0nX4ofcGc/s1600/HenryBirth_087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YtY115FGrWk/UQW97b1qTSI/AAAAAAAABbg/BU0nX4ofcGc/s400/HenryBirth_087.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2KFEHLoyJE/UQW-PrUrUPI/AAAAAAAABbs/Ucrp9IQvaVw/s1600/HenryBirth_095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2KFEHLoyJE/UQW-PrUrUPI/AAAAAAAABbs/Ucrp9IQvaVw/s400/HenryBirth_095.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />After about three minutes, Buster cut the cord. And not long after, my mom popped her head in (which she also did during one of my pushing sessions... I frantically waved her out of the room), and came in to meet her first grandchild.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jY1s8JnldVw/UQW_EBQfcuI/AAAAAAAABb4/hgHU9-bubNw/s1600/HenryBirth_102b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jY1s8JnldVw/UQW_EBQfcuI/AAAAAAAABb4/hgHU9-bubNw/s400/HenryBirth_102b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma meeting her first grandchild!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNtXjNXSZ1Q/UQW_Zx4BjfI/AAAAAAAABcA/0KCXGL0YdTA/s1600/HenryBirth_116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNtXjNXSZ1Q/UQW_Zx4BjfI/AAAAAAAABcA/0KCXGL0YdTA/s400/HenryBirth_116.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud daddy saying hi to his son.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1_TruVAdEA/UQW_v8ngbtI/AAAAAAAABcQ/aJ7vH0VxDFY/s1600/HenryBirth_123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1_TruVAdEA/UQW_v8ngbtI/AAAAAAAABcQ/aJ7vH0VxDFY/s400/HenryBirth_123.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Henry actually latched on and breastfed for a few minutes! I had about 25 minutes of skin-to-skin with Henry before they even weighed him.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inNB6x33dSs/UQXAjjyMAfI/AAAAAAAABcc/nwGQS-1BIBM/s1600/HenryBirth_154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inNB6x33dSs/UQXAjjyMAfI/AAAAAAAABcc/nwGQS-1BIBM/s400/HenryBirth_154.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry weighed in at 8lbs 5oz, and was 20" long.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ooCApl2-FK0/UQXBGTI9qKI/AAAAAAAABcs/S74gCEUCJzs/s1600/HenryBirth_212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ooCApl2-FK0/UQXBGTI9qKI/AAAAAAAABcs/S74gCEUCJzs/s400/HenryBirth_212.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buster holding his baby boy for the first time.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ogpw9JtSls8/UQXBGmUNlYI/AAAAAAAABcw/NBm8eOgduos/s1600/HenryBirth_213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ogpw9JtSls8/UQXBGmUNlYI/AAAAAAAABcw/NBm8eOgduos/s400/HenryBirth_213.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">love.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rKUX1-Kb8S4/UQXBgDBcYMI/AAAAAAAABc8/PYrC8Fq7R-A/s1600/HenryBirth_224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rKUX1-Kb8S4/UQXBgDBcYMI/AAAAAAAABc8/PYrC8Fq7R-A/s400/HenryBirth_224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XH5OpQGkUUA/UQXCDtl22UI/AAAAAAAABdE/zlZy2WlDJv4/s1600/HenryBirth_232+2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XH5OpQGkUUA/UQXCDtl22UI/AAAAAAAABdE/zlZy2WlDJv4/s400/HenryBirth_232+2b.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dI5z5f9ItHA/UQXCS7ji1GI/AAAAAAAABdM/pe7dzLPqecc/s1600/HenryBirth_238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dI5z5f9ItHA/UQXCS7ji1GI/AAAAAAAABdM/pe7dzLPqecc/s400/HenryBirth_238.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />I pushed for 35 minutes. The nurses and my doctor were pretty astounded that everything went so quickly, especially considering I was a first-time mom. My nurse told me I was "the talk of the floor". That pretty much made me feel like a rockstar. And not to mention there were other ladies on the floor who had been laboring for two days!<br /><br />From start to finish, my labor lasted about twelve hours (from first real contractions to Henry's arrival). I feel pretty lucky that my labor and delivery went so well, especially considering my mild pre-eclampsia and blood pressure issues at the end of my pregnancy.<br /><br />I did tear a little, and my doctor ended up cutting me a little. He said that Henry's heart rate was dropping on some of those last pushes, and he just wanted to help him along. But I only required two or three stitches, and he classified it as a second-degree tear.<br /><br />Overall, my birth experience was very different than I envisioned. And even though it didn't start out so great, &nbsp;the most intense part of labor was actually a really great experience. My doctor was amazing, as were my nurses. And I'm proud of myself for doing it without an epidural (even though I was begging for one...).<br /><br />Experiencing such an amazing life-event with Buster right by my side was incredible. There were moments (days, months, years) over the past five years that I didn't think I'd ever be a mom, and to finally experience it... well there aren't any words. I've used them all up.<br /><br />I'm just so in love.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3UxyjxtbVAY/UQXPiaIRplI/AAAAAAAABds/IqsksAVYv1w/s1600/Henry_Newborn161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3UxyjxtbVAY/UQXPiaIRplI/AAAAAAAABds/IqsksAVYv1w/s400/Henry_Newborn161.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div></div>http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/henrys-birth-story-part-four-arrival.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-7780087561263177741Sun, 27 Jan 2013 01:18:00 +00002013-01-26T20:18:24.538-05:00birth storyHenry's birth story, part three: my own room<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(For the story so far, <a href="http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/henrys-birth-story-part-one-prelude.html">click here for part one</a>, and <a href="http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/henrys-birth-story-part-two-should-i.html">here for part two</a>...)</i></span><br /><br />I think my body somehow was holding off on really kicking it into gear until we were officially admitted to the hospital. I say that because around 10 a.m., when we were finally admitted, my contractions really started getting painful.<br /><br />I was, once again, hooked up to a blood pressure cuff (thank you, mild pre-eclampsia) and strapped up for an NST. So, there was no getting out of bed at this point. Every contraction, I would squeeze the shit out of Buster's hand. And try to breathe through them, while keeping my jaw relaxed.<br /><br />Eventually they got painful enough where moaning through them was the better option for me, rather than breathing through them. It was basically a one-note, one-breath "ughhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm" until the contraction was over. And the couple on the other side of the curtain got to listen in on all of this. I checked my dignity and self-consciousness at the door.<br /><br />When my nurse checked back with me, I let her know that contractions had really picked up in pain and frequency. She decided to check me again. It was now 11 a.m. And I was certainly progressing: I was 6-7cm dilated now (does that mean 6.5?? Who knows!). She told me that they were still working on getting me my own room (so much for that birthing tub... I had still been holding out a smidgen of hope for that). She unhooked me from all my wires at this point.<br /><br />(side note: one of my last correspondences with the outside world happened at this time: <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"6-7 cm dilated. Henry should be here by late afternoon. Contractions suck dick."</i></span>)<br /><br />After she left, I told Buster I wanted to try laboring standing up. That was the main reason I didn't want an epidural, after all! I wanted to be free to roam, free to stand, free to sit on a birthing ball, etc. I had been in bed for an hour at this point, and I wanted to see if the contractions were more tolerable while standing.<br /><br />Buster helped me to sit up, and I swung my legs around. I dangled my feet over the edge of the bed, and gently tried to step down. The pressure I felt down low was excruciating and completely took me by surprise. Wincing in pain, I felt a gush of warmness: my water had broken.<br /><br />The pain and pressure I experienced after my water broke took my breath away. I told Buster that I had to get back in bed IMMEDIATELY. Standing was not going to be an option. It was now 11:20 a.m.<br /><br />Apparently your water breaking is like steroids for contractions... holy shit did they hurt at this point. And they were coming much, much closer together. I lost any awareness of the people in the room with me, and started yelling (not really yelling, but not talking either... somewhere in between) about how I'm in horrible pain, and REALLLLY want an epidural now!!!!! And PLEASE get me my own room (I was certain I would be birthing Henry here in this stupid triage room!)!!<br /><br />My nurse showed up and I told her my water broke. I begged her for an epidural. She paged someone to come draw my blood (because apparently you must have blood drawn prior to getting an epidural?). She goes ahead and puts an IV in (which she REALLY struggled with. All kinds of fishing around in my wrist area with a needle. And during a contraction. WTF that was awful.).<br /><br />Things had been moving so quickly since we had been admitted that so far, only my mother-in-law had made it to the hospital. Buster texted my family and let them know that things were progressing very quickly now, so they should head to the hospital.<br /><br />I continued laboring in the triage room, moaning and grunting through my contractions while squeezing Buster's hand. I continued talking loudly about how much they hurt and how I reallllly wanted that epidural. Every time my nurse came in, I asked about the epidural. And every time, she told me the same shit: they are so busy, they are trying to get someone up here, blah blah.<br /><br />Someone finally did come to draw my blood, so that gave me some hope that maybe I would get that epidural (that I had said I didn't want this whole pregnancy) after all. My nurse goes ahead and starts a fluid drip. She said something about them having to get some amount of fluids in me before I could even get the epidural. I forget how many bags she said, but by the looks of the drip (it was pushing pretty damn slow), it seemed like I'd be lucky to have that one bag in me.<br /><br />About ten minutes after the blood draw, my nurse and my former nurse (who was so busy earlier and said that I might just have an irritable uterus) show up with a wheelchair. I was FINALLY getting my own room! No more scaring the couple on the other side of the window with my epidural demands.<br /><br />But that meant I had to get up from the bed... ugh. I started to make my way out of bed, but a contraction stopped me in my tracks. After it passed, Buster helped me up and into the wheelchair. As they wheeled me down the hall, I had another contraction. I saw pregnant ladies walking the hall, and somewhere in my mind I thought how that was me so many hours ago. I'm sure I scared them shitless with the pained look on my face and my labored breaths as I was pushed to my room.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cm9uiLh4cdM/UQR7zuwX_PI/AAAAAAAABZU/zAQDj0O5WZM/s1600/HenryBirth_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cm9uiLh4cdM/UQR7zuwX_PI/AAAAAAAABZU/zAQDj0O5WZM/s400/HenryBirth_002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sight for sore eyes!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was now noon. I finally got my own room, 7.5 hours after arriving at the hospital.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>to be continued...</i></span>http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/henrys-birth-story-part-three-my-own.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-4989988946882320526Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:09:00 +00002014-10-10T16:37:35.288-04:00birth storyHenrypregnancyHenry's birth story, part two: should I stay or should I go?<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Note: You can read part one of Henry's birth story <a href="http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/henrys-birth-story-part-one-prelude.html">here</a>.)</span></i><br /><br />On the way to the hospital, I forced down half of a Kashi Pumpkin Spice Flax granola bar. My contractions were picking up in intensity, and I found myself breathing through them, birth-class style.<br /><br />We arrived at the hospital at 4:30 a.m. and headed in through the Emergency Room entrance. I tell them why I'm there, and how far along I am. They sit me in a wheelchair, and the most untalkative attendant ever wheels me up to the fifth floor. That was an awkward elevator ride.<br /><br />When I got to L&amp;D (labor and delivery), it only took a few minutes of observation to realize that they were packed. I caught a glimpse of the doctor from my practice who was on call (my least favorite one... he actually did my D&amp;C. There are three doctors, and the other two I really like). Doctor looked exhausted. The way he looked at me said, "Oh no, not another one."<br /><br />I fill out all of the annoying paperwork, and they tell me that they are going to put me in triage, as there are no empty rooms. I don't really like the sound of that, but I have no choice.<br /><br />I head down to the triage room, which is a semi-large room with two beds and a curtain divider between. The nurse points to my bed, and tells me that shortly another pregnant woman will be occupying the other bed. I change into my gown and hop into bed and wait for a cervical check.<br /><br />As I'm waiting, the other pregnant lady and her husband enter. The curtain is drawn, so I can't see them. Weird.<br /><br />The nurse comes back and checks me. I'm 4cm (still...) but 100% effaced. She is not impressed with those stats. She tells me that they don't know if they will admit me or not, but they will check me again in an hour to see if there is any progress. At that time, they will decide if I should stay or go. She tells me to walk the halls for this hour to try to get things going. It is now 5:30 a.m.<br /><br />Well, I don't want to go home at this point! I want to have my baby! So Buster and I hit the halls, and walk for an hour. We head back to the room and I get in bed, expecting to be checked soon. Instead of checking me right then, they hook me up for an NST. And slap a blood pressure cuff on to monitor that as well. Ok, sure. Whatever.<br /><br />All of the sudden, there is a flurry of activity on the other side of the curtain. I have no clue what is happening, but I believe the baby's heart rate dropped. They put oxygen on the woman (I can hear her breathing through the mask), and this really mean nurse pops her head around the curtain and says entirely too sternly, "DON'T COME OVER HERE."<br /><br />Um, HELLO. I'm hooked up to a bunch of stuff right now! Why in the HELL would I want to peek around the corner at something that sounds so ridiculously scary to me right now??? And did you have to be so mean to me?<br /><br />After she disappeared to the other side again, I look at Buster and just start crying.<br /><br />"This isn't how this is supposed to be," I say.<br /><br />And there is the problem with having expectations. Nothing ever goes according to them, especially a birth. I expected to be admitted, have my own room, request a birthing tub, etc, etc. Not listen to some scary traumatic Grey's Anatomy shit on the other side of a curtain in the shared room I'm in (and so you know, everything was ok with that girl and her baby. They had to do an emergency c-section, but Buster saw the baby daddy later in the day, and he gave him the thumbs up.).<br /><br />At 6:40 a.m., they move the emergency c-section girl out, and my nurse pops in and says that she will be by to check me in 20 minutes.<br /><br />7:00 a.m. comes and goes, and the only thing that happens is a shift change (thankfully! Get the rude nurses out of there, please!). At this point, contractions are 4 1/2 minutes apart, but only lasting about 30 seconds or so.<br /><br />At 7:30 a.m., my nurse finally returns. But not to check me. She tells me that she has other things to do, and that she will be back in a bit to check me (always dangling that carrot). I tell her that I'd just like to know if we are staying or not. She then goes on to mention that they may be sending me home because I might just have an irritable uterus. Oh, and that I'm getting a new roommate. Awesome.<br /><br />An irritable uterus?! I don't even know how to respond to that, as I've never done any research on it. But I do know it sounds a bit hard to believe. How can I not be in labor? I had a membrane sweep two days ago, I had my bloody show, and now I'm having timeable contractions that are less than 5 minutes apart.<br /><br />She leaves. I'm frustrated beyond belief at this point. We've been at the hospital for three hours and know absolutely nothing, other than I'm fully effaced.<br /><br />Buster decides to take a nap. I'm still timing contractions on my phone, but don't even know how important that is, since I'm hooked up for an NST (I was hooked up for NSTs for what seemed like the majority of my time in the triage room).<br /><br />By this time, the other pregnant lady and her husband have come in, but I can't see anything because my curtain is drawn. I hear the husband ask if they will be getting their own room, and I want to yell over that I was here first (yes, like a big giant baby), but I bite my tongue.<br /><br />At 9:40 a.m., still no cervical check. As a reminder, it was supposed to happen at 6:30 a.m. I'm in tears. I decide to push the call button and see if I can get any answers. A different nurse comes by and tells me that my nurse is with someone who is pushing, and will check with me after that. Through tears, I tell this new nurse that I just want to know either way if I'm staying or going. I tell her we've been here for 5 hours and know nothing yet. And I just want to know something.<br /><br />My tearful plea must have gotten through to her, because she decides to do a cervical check. And I've progressed to 5cm. She still doesn't know if they will be admitting me (??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?), and she tells me to go walk the halls again. So we do. It is now 10:00 a.m.<br /><br />Once out in the halls, I see one of the doctors I do in fact like from my practice. The other one had gone home, and Dr. H was now the doc on call. Yay! He sees me in the hall, and tells me that he isn't letting them send me home.<br /><br />Soon after, we head back into the shared triage room. My new nurse comes by and says that yes, they are in fact admitting me now, but there are still no rooms available for me. So, we wait it out in the triage room.<br /><br />Finally, we feel comfortable telling our family that today is the day. Buster texts and calls our immediate family. I text our photographer (we did birth photography!!) and let her know that today is the day, but that it still might be a while (the nurse told me it usually goes 1cm per hour, so if that was the case, Henry should arrive around 3 p.m.).<br /><br />I'm just hoping I get my own room by then!<br /><br /><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to be continued...</span></i><br /><br /><br />http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/henrys-birth-story-part-two-should-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-7557877069468257996Sat, 19 Jan 2013 17:14:00 +00002013-01-19T12:14:02.920-05:00birth storyHenrypregnancyHenry's birth story, part one: the prelude<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(Note: If I don't break this up, it will be a birth novel. So, there will be parts. Also, in case you wonder how I know the exact time of certain events, I have technology to thank for that. I was able to go back and see Facebook posts and texts, and make a timeline based on my electronic communications. This was not only extremely helpful for mapping out my birth story, but also was a great way to relive the most exciting and anticipated day of my life. And please note, it really does get more interesting as the story unfolds... this first entry is more for setting the stage! Enjoy!)</i></span><br /><br />On Monday, January 7th, I had my <a href="http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/39-weeks-and-membrane-sweep.html">39-week appointment</a>. First we had a growth scan, and Henry was estimated to weigh 8lbs 3oz. My doctor then did a cervical check, and I had made some progress: 4cm dilated and 75% effaced (two weeks prior I was 3cm). And my doctor agreed to do a membrane sweep, which made me quite happy. I was incredibly ready to meet my little man, and since I was already 4cm, I figured it wouldn't be long!<br /><br />Monday evening I was crampy and passed a lot of plug. By Tuesday morning, however, everything was back to normal (unfortunately!). To say I was disappointed was an understatement.<br /><br />I decided to rebel against my bed rest and head to the grocery store and then bake muffins. <a href="http://greenlitebites.com/2010/10/10/pumpkin-oatmeal-cups/">Muffins</a> that were recommended to a friend by her doula to help promote lactation. So I hit up the store, and made two dozen muffins (pumpkin oatmeal and banana oatmeal chocolate chip).<br /><br />All of my expended energy must have done something internally, because I lost a huge chunk of plug. &nbsp;I think it was my bloody show. But nothing exciting happened after that. So I spent the rest of the day relaxing, playing Call of Duty, doing laundry, etc. Normal bed rest day.<br /><br />I had taken a short nap (I typically never nap) earlier in the day, so I stayed up later than normal. I finally went to sleep at about midnight or 12:30 a.m.<br /><br />Buster came to bed at 1:30 a.m., and being the light sleeper that I am, of course I woke up. And out of the blue...I felt what I figured was most likely a "real" contraction. It felt different than the Braxton Hicks I had experienced in the past. This was more pressure down low (towards my butt!).<br /><br />Hmmm.<br /><br />Enter overactive mind.<br /><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Was that a contraction? Did I just imagine it because I want to be in labor so badly? If that wasn't a contraction, what was it?</span></i><br /><br />And then another one happened. This time I was prepared. I had downloaded a contraction timer, and timed this one. It lasted 1 minute and 11 seconds.<br /><br />By 2:08 a.m., I had logged four such contractions. They started out 11 minutes apart, but by the fourth one they were 6 1/2 minutes apart.<br /><br />At this point, I told Buster to go to sleep. If this was in fact the real thing, I wanted him to try to get a little sleep before we needed to head in to the hospital.<br /><br />At 2:17 a.m., I experienced the most painful one yet. It was a little over 5 minutes from the last one. I decided that this is probably it, and I jump in the shower. I wanted to go in to this experience feeling my best, and that includes clean with freshly shaven legs!<br /><br />In the next hour and a half, the contractions are sporadic. Some come four minutes apart, and then go back to seven minutes apart. They stop lasting one full minute, and usually last about 40 seconds.<br /><br />At this point I'm wondering about the "5-1-1" rule. My contractions aren't exactly lasting one minute, nor are they consistently five minutes apart. But, I'm already 4cm dilated... and my friends (who were thankfully awake and able to chat with me on Facebook during all of this!) were concerned about me not making it to the hospital in time! But the hospital is only about 7 minutes from our house, so I didn't think that would be a problem... but I did have visions of me birthing Henry in our new car on the side of the road.<br /><br />During all of this, Buster is sleeping. Which is fine. I start throwing things together (our bag was packed, but I needed to grab some other things), all the while still timing. At 3:30 a.m., I wake his ass up. Finally, at 3:45 a.m., he drags himself out of bed. Of course, after he gets up, they seem to slow again (7 minutes apart).<br /><br />Maybe they are stopping?<br /><br />At 3:52 a.m., I had the worst contraction yet, and started to feel nauseated.<br /><br />We leave for the hospital at 4:15 a.m. And that's where the fun begins...<br /><br /><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to be continued...</span></i>http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/henrys-birth-story-part-one-prelude.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-7982182197455713082Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:22:00 +00002013-01-14T10:27:41.144-05:00birth storyHenryHenry has arrived!I know I'm late in posting this, and I apologize. I've had my hands full, though :)<br /><br />Henry Marshall G. made his arrival on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 1:15 p.m. He weighed 8lbs 5oz and was 20" long.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jl3Ml9h_oPA/UPQg9im3IdI/AAAAAAAABYk/xQte_k7gU5o/s1600/image014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jl3Ml9h_oPA/UPQg9im3IdI/AAAAAAAABYk/xQte_k7gU5o/s320/image014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His first moments on this earth!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sP0TV9gLyeQ/UPQhuiYAU0I/AAAAAAAABY8/wDBlPF1EwVU/s1600/580606_10101203542428379_829296553_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sP0TV9gLyeQ/UPQhuiYAU0I/AAAAAAAABY8/wDBlPF1EwVU/s320/580606_10101203542428379_829296553_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After they gooped up his eyes!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GrQcYgc5w6g/UPQhFoU8xxI/AAAAAAAABYs/6bC243B6ffk/s1600/Henry_nb_zps3ed79722-1_zpsb83a7ad8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GrQcYgc5w6g/UPQhFoU8xxI/AAAAAAAABYs/6bC243B6ffk/s320/Henry_nb_zps3ed79722-1_zpsb83a7ad8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry, day 2</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VLpPc_uld3E/UPQhKAb9ttI/AAAAAAAABY0/glVmEEroi2I/s1600/henry_day5b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VLpPc_uld3E/UPQhKAb9ttI/AAAAAAAABY0/glVmEEroi2I/s320/henry_day5b.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry, day 5</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I have quite a birth story to type up! I hope to do that in the coming days. It was a crazy whirlwind of a birth day for Henry. Can't wait to share the details.<br /><br />And again, sorry for leaving you all hanging! It's been hard to find time to pee, let alone sit in front of the computer :) Thank you all for your support leading up to this moment. This blog community is amazing.http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/henry-has-arrived.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-6159490916969683718Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:05:00 +00002013-01-08T08:05:21.481-05:00pregnancy39 weeks... and a membrane sweep!Yesterday I hit the 39-week milestone. And I had a doctor's appointment. Exciting stuff!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dc0F6pEkEKk/UOwWq2KivVI/AAAAAAAABYQ/VGvEdGpgZQE/s1600/39_weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dc0F6pEkEKk/UOwWq2KivVI/AAAAAAAABYQ/VGvEdGpgZQE/s320/39_weeks.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><br /><br />The first portion of my appointment was a growth scan to make sure that my placenta and fluid were good, and that Henry was growing as he should be. And thankfully, all is well inside my uterus!<br /><br />Henry is measuring five days ahead in the 76th percentile and estimated to be 8lbs 3oz. My fluid levels were perfect and Henry's movements were wonderful. All great news!<br /><br />After the ultrasound, Buster and I headed into the exam room to wait on the doctor. I told the nurse that I was hoping for a membrane sweep, and she said the doc would definitely do it. She headed out and said he'd be in shortly.<br /><br />When the doctor came in, he went over the ultrasound results and seemed very pleased with them. Then we discussed a membrane sweep. He told me last appointment that an induction increases the chances of a c-section, so I asked if a membrane sweep did the same. He said no, which was comforting to hear. So we decided to do it.<br /><br />Before the sweep, however, he did a cervical check. I am now 4 cm dilated and 75% effaced (I was 3 cm and 80% two weeks ago, but I'm thinking the difference in effacement is because different doctors did the check...?). My doctor was seriously giddy over finding out I was already 4 cm dilated. He mentioned several times how perfect this was, and "how nice" (which is odd to hear when someone's hand is rammed up in you).<br /><br />So then he stretched my cervix and did the sweep. Um, ouch. For those of you who have had an HSG, you know how it feels when they push the dye through? Like the worst period cramps ever, but thankfully it's so short? That's kind of what it was like. Except the menstrual-type pain was even worse and more uncomfortable, and lasted a tad longer.<br /><br />My doctor seemed to think there was a good chance I would go in to labor that night. And he definitely thinks I will not be pregnant on Henry's due date, which is Monday the 14th.<br /><br />Well, since I'm here typing this post this morning, there was no labor last night. And I'm pretty disappointed! I know it's stupid to be disappointed, but I was really hoping that the sweep would kickstart something. I did have some timeable contractions, but they were quite far apart and only lasted about 30 seconds. Then they stopped.<br /><br />I kept hoping that overnight I would awake to painful contractions, but no such luck. So here I am, sitting on my exercise ball, contemplating what my plan of attack is for the day.<br /><br />Baking. Definitely some baking. And maybe a trip to Michael's so I can walk around for a good, long while. Hip circles on my exercise ball. And maybe some Call of Duty when I want to sit and relax for a few.<br /><br />I'm just so ready to meet my little Henry!!http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/39-weeks-and-membrane-sweep.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-2821585505941351901Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:43:00 +00002013-01-06T12:43:37.178-05:00pregnancyshoppingFavorite maternity productsSeveral bloggy friends of mine have done posts detailing what baby products have proved most helpful. I love these posts, even though chances are I probably won't be able to find them when I really need them! And perhaps I'll even do a similar post, after Henry arrives.<br /><br />But today, I wanted to list some maternity products that I couldn't live without during this pregnancy! I scoured online reviews, tested out different products, and these are my tried and true. Hopefully this might help someone who has been looking in to any of the following:<br /><br /><b><u>BEST MATERNITY CAMI EVER:</u></b><br /><br />Let me preface this by saying that I'm quite particular when it comes to camisoles. I was really hoping to find a nice maternity cami with a shelf bra, but the ones I ordered (from Kohl's... don't do it, no matter how good the price) rode up and were too short. I'm not super tall (5'8"), but I think I have a long torso. And I don't want my bare back or belly to be visible to every passerby. That's not too much to ask, right? So give me a nice, long cami!<br /><br />And I found one. I loved it so much, I ordered it in two colors. Wish I would have gotten more, actually, but it's a bit too late in the game for that.<br /><br />The award goes to... <a href="http://www.target.com/p/be-maternity-seamless-cami-assorted-colors/-/A-11293010">Be Maternity Seamless Cami</a>, which I purchased at <a href="http://www.target.com/p/be-maternity-seamless-cami-assorted-colors/-/A-11293010">Target</a>. They sell them online, and in the stores. The sizes in the store are really hit or miss, so I ended up ordering both online.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4wvtnvFXCMU/UOmPxKOg5xI/AAAAAAAABV8/674KtYcX-Fw/s1600/bematernity_tank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4wvtnvFXCMU/UOmPxKOg5xI/AAAAAAAABV8/674KtYcX-Fw/s320/bematernity_tank.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Target.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I probably purchased this cami when I was around 20 weeks. And they still fit. Forty some odd pounds later. The length is amazing. And since I can no longer wear full panel pants (crazy that something which was incredibly comfy in the beginning is so horrendously uncomfortable now), I wear these tanks under everything to make sure my belly is covered. I ordered the gray and white, but I would have gladly purchased the other two colors (nude and black) had I felt it necessary.<br /><br />The <b><u>runner-up</u></b> in this category goes to <a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=7275&amp;vid=1&amp;pid=761563002">Gap's Support Cami</a>. I ordered this one at about 30 weeks pregnant, so I haven't gotten quite as much use out of it. However, it's great to not have to wear a bra, as it has a built-in shelf bra that is pretty darn supportive (I'm about average, bust-wise).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLif_R9UJxU/UOmRv8np4AI/AAAAAAAABWQ/9J0DIE9hV5g/s1600/gap_cami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLif_R9UJxU/UOmRv8np4AI/AAAAAAAABWQ/9J0DIE9hV5g/s320/gap_cami.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Gap.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I ended up with the nude color, but I wish I would have gotten a different color. I can't remember why I ordered the nude, perhaps they were out of white or black. My issue with the color is that if whatever shirt I'm wearing underneath rides up, it looks like skin. So even though I'm not baring my bod, it looks that way to the average bystander. Oh well, it's still quite comfy and supportive. I think I might even be able to breastfeed in it, depending on how big my boobs get.<br /><br /><b><u>BEST MATERNITY UNDIES EVER:</u></b><br /><br />Ok, I know many women don't ever buy special maternity underwear. I was thinking I wouldn't either... just buy some cheaper, larger ones from WalMart or Target and be done. But then, I had a coupon to use at the Gap, during a time they were having a big sale. I scored some of their maternity <a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=6065&amp;vid=1&amp;pid=327677032">Stretch Cotton Hipsters</a> for about $3 a pair, and HOLY SHIT how did I live without these?<br /><br />I'm a hipster girl, so of course that's what I ordered, but they also come in bikini and thong.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zmmrz30td1E/UOmTE4gQefI/AAAAAAAABWk/wgR-vmE8jU0/s1600/gap_hipsters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zmmrz30td1E/UOmTE4gQefI/AAAAAAAABWk/wgR-vmE8jU0/s320/gap_hipsters.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Gap.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The full retail price of these underwear are $10.95, which I would never pay. Both times I ordered some (yes, on two separate occasions... I think I have six pairs now!), they were on sale and I had a coupon. But they actually fit my ass! All of my Victoria's Secret undies were getting tight and allowing more of me to hang out than I cared for. I tried buying some cheap, size-up undies at WalMart, and they just weren't very comfortable.<br /><br />Once I tried these, I couldn't go back. Lovely coverage. Nice and soft. So comfortable. I'm in love. Honestly.<br /><br />If you see them on sale, and you are even remotely considering them, BUY THEM. You won't regret it. The first set of three I ordered was one size, and the next set was a size up from that. They both fit fine now, but I wanted to cover all bases, just in case!<br /><br /><b><u>BEST MATERNITY LEGGINGS</u></b><br /><br />Granted, I've only tried two different brands of maternity legging: Gap and <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=58363&amp;vid=1&amp;pid=778942002">Old Navy</a>. And the <a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=63747&amp;vid=1&amp;pid=796174012">Gap Supersoft Maternity Leggings</a> take the cake!<br /><br />I ordered both pairs of leggings in black, and the Old Navy pair has really faded. The Gap pair, on the other hand, is still nice and rich black. For some stupid reason, I ordered the Old Navy pair in full panel... ugh. That was fine at 20 weeks. 30, not so much. 39? No freaking way. So uncomfortable. The Gap leggings fit nicely under my giant belly, and are so comfortable.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AEhvcmg3YxU/UOmthwgKuHI/AAAAAAAABW4/DWZn9lHPTFU/s1600/gap_leggings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AEhvcmg3YxU/UOmthwgKuHI/AAAAAAAABW4/DWZn9lHPTFU/s320/gap_leggings.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Gap.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I wish I would have ordered two black pairs, or one in gray. I wore these so much with dresses and flats. Easy (and comfortable) work attire! Highly recommend!<br /><br /><u><b>FAVORITE MATERNITY T-SHIRT:</b></u><br /><br />I know it seems like I'm being paid by the Gap, but I promise I'm not. I just found several items of that brand that have been amazing.<br /><br />Including the Pure Body line of t-shirts.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sUNhaf48-Yw/UOmvUOGkYDI/AAAAAAAABXM/dehTY17Nroo/s1600/gap_purebodyT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sUNhaf48-Yw/UOmvUOGkYDI/AAAAAAAABXM/dehTY17Nroo/s320/gap_purebodyT.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Gap.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLGYkXPZONQ/UOmvV_DYXnI/AAAAAAAABXU/CzRJcgH0GdE/s1600/gap_purebody_long.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLGYkXPZONQ/UOmvV_DYXnI/AAAAAAAABXU/CzRJcgH0GdE/s320/gap_purebody_long.jpg" width="174" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Gap.com</td></tr></tbody></table>Initially, I purchased the <a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=8903120720003&amp;cid=65304&amp;locale=en_US">Pure Body short-sleeve t-shirt</a> in a brown color. It was on sale for $4! How could I pass that up? And it has been, hands-down, my favorite t-shirt. It's the one that the majority of my belly photos have been taken in, as of late. It's super soft, super comfortable, and most importantly: nice and long! Eventually I ordered two more (a gray one that I seem to have misplaced, and a white one that I dribbled gravy on and stained).<br /><br />I also ordered one <a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=6053&amp;vid=1&amp;pid=915675002">Pure Body long-sleeved t-shirt</a>. I wish I would have gotten a couple more long-sleeved shirts, since it is winter and all. But the one black one I ordered will suffice. The downside is that I am usually living in my yoga pants, which are black. So black on black... I kind of feel like a ninja. Next time, I would order a different color.<br /><br /><b><u>FAVORITE MATERNITY YOGA PANTS:</u></b><br /><br />Ok, so yes, these are my favorite. But these are also the only ones I've tried. I read reviews on tons of maternity yoga pants prior to purchasing, and these had the best reviews: <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=64306&amp;vid=1&amp;pid=811892012">Old Navy's&nbsp;Maternity Roll-Panel Yoga Pants</a>. I ordered the black pair (of course), and loved them so much (and wore them so much...) that I bought the gray pair as well.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ToNDAZYpY9w/UOmzJyKcNCI/AAAAAAAABXo/eZdXchCAj8k/s1600/oldnavy_yoga_pants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ToNDAZYpY9w/UOmzJyKcNCI/AAAAAAAABXo/eZdXchCAj8k/s320/oldnavy_yoga_pants.jpg" width="129" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of OldNavy.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Yes, the black pair has faded. But because they are yoga pants, I just can't be too concerned with that. Even though they are pretty much my uniform at this point. The gray pair is packed in my hospital bag, which resides in the car, so they have been out of commission for about a week or two. I wear the black pair whenever they are clean, and until they are so covered in blonde Kelsey hair that I need to re-wash.<br /><br /><b><u>FAVORITE MATERNITY JEANS:</u></b><br /><br />Now, here is one category that I can say I've tried a varied selection of brands, including Old Navy, Gap, Target, and Motherhood Maternity.<br /><br />I had a hard time finding Gap and Old Navy jeans that worked well for me. The cut was wrong, or the belly panel was wrong, or something. The most success I had was with some hand-me-downs from Motherhood Maternity, even though they were a tad on the short side. I could only wear them with flats. And once my belly started growing and growing, I had to stop wearing them completely (they could have passed for capris, practically).<br /><br />My expensive (read: full-price... probably not expensive to some, but $70 is a lot to me!) <a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=761864002">Gap 1969 full panel sexy boot jeans</a> started getting too snug around 32 weeks. So, way too late in the pregnancy game, I ordered a pair of jeans from Motherhood Maternity.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L_zUf1ASTHk/UOm2BGVXLiI/AAAAAAAABX8/tdOX7SaGfRU/s1600/mm_jeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L_zUf1ASTHk/UOm2BGVXLiI/AAAAAAAABX8/tdOX7SaGfRU/s320/mm_jeans.jpg" width="196" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Motherhood.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br />And they have quickly come to be my favorite! They are the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_id=932820290">Secret Fit Belly® Signature Pocket Boot Cut Maternity Jeans</a>, and I wish I had gotten them sooner! And in both washes. You really can't beat the price on these jeans, honestly ($30, regular price?!).<br /><br />___________<br /><br />And there you have it! A rundown of my favorite maternity clothes from this pregnancy. I suppose soon enough these may be packed up in a box, but I really hope I get to use them again!http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/favorite-maternity-products.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-7528651785997277196Fri, 04 Jan 2013 21:26:00 +00002013-01-04T16:26:23.583-05:00pregnancy38 weeksI'm still pregnant! And still on bed rest, although my doctor has now termed it "modified bed rest". Ok, whatever. He says I can go to my grandma's house, or go to dinner, but no all-day shopping excursions. Doable.<br /><br />I've been checking my blood pressure at home, and it's typically always right around 135/85. Not great, but not awful. Makes me wonder if I was dealing with work stresses, etc, if it would be higher. Bed rest was probably the right call.<br /><br />And as an update to my last weekly post, the 24-hour urine catch I did came back with the exact same level of protein as the one before it: 310. Still above 300, but not getting any worse. My official diagnosis is mild pre-eclampsia, and I certainly hope it stays mild.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">How far along?</span><br />38 weeks and 4 days today. I was slacking a little on this update, sorry!<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">How big is baby?</span><br />Your guess is as good as mine! I know he's much, much bigger than he was even a couple weeks ago. And I know this because his punches HURT. Really badly. I think he's trying to punch his way out of my ute. I guess that's what happens when you are cramped and uncomfortable! I have a doctor's appointment on Monday that includes a growth scan, so I will have a somewhat better idea of his size then.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Weight gain?</span><br />I should just remove this category. Have hit the 60 lb mark. Impressive, I know.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Belly photos?</span><br />Couldn't be arsed to put on the same brown shirt I've been using for my pictures, so that whole "same shirt in every belly photo" idea I had last time is now officially out the window.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/38_weeks_zps6f175f33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/38_weeks_zps6f175f33.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Cravings/Aversions?</span><br />Nope.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sleep?</span><br />Sleep has, amazingly enough, gotten slightly better. I'm still waking up (usually around 3:30 a.m.), but I'm able to fall back asleep within an hour. I've also slept in a couple days, since I don't have to go to work. That's been nice.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Symptoms [...of impending labor]?</span><br />After the excitement of last appointment (cervical check, finding out I was 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced, the bed rest order), this week seems pretty boring. I had a couple days of decent, sporadic contractions. That excited me. Then it stopped.<br /><br />At my last NST (this past Monday), I didn't register ONE contraction. Lame!<br /><br />I've still been losing bits of plug, but my doctor told me I would since I am already dilated to a 3. He said that the plug will regenerate. So basically, it means jack shit.<br /><br />So no symptoms here. I'm such a disappointment, I know! Apparently baby Henry wants to just keep on cooking. And that's fine. But I really am hoping he arrives by his due date! Which is ten days away...<br /><br />http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/38-weeks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-5706601678793484990Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:04:00 +00002013-01-03T16:08:59.636-05:00pregnancystretch marksThose two dirty words: stretch marksLike most pregnant women, I hoped to avoid stretch marks. Or if not avoid them altogether, at least have a minimal outbreak.<br /><br />So, I started buttering up quite early on.<br /><br />And I know what you are thinking. That stretch marks are genetic. That if I'm meant to get them, I will.<br /><br />Maybe you are right. But, I figure it can't hurt keeping my belly, boobs, thighs, and love handles nice and moisturized, right? And if it even helps in the slightest, well... hot dog. Yes, hot dog.<br /><br />Although I didn't get my wish of avoiding stretch marks altogether, I did manage to not get one on my belly. I think that's quite a feat, right? Instead, they are on my boobs... But, at least they aren't covering both, right?<br /><br />Here is my 38w3d bare belly:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EzJpWFiHy14/UOXZBABIsqI/AAAAAAAABUY/yAWyjCGnZhg/s1600/38w3d_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EzJpWFiHy14/UOXZBABIsqI/AAAAAAAABUY/yAWyjCGnZhg/s320/38w3d_a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ODoS7WzYKbw/UOXZDEimVwI/AAAAAAAABUg/9Ad5OzlQqyw/s1600/38w3d_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ODoS7WzYKbw/UOXZDEimVwI/AAAAAAAABUg/9Ad5OzlQqyw/s320/38w3d_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />The only "issue" I've had on my belly is where my belly button was once pierced (17-year-old me had this done back in 1999 at a store called 4:20 in Myrtle Beach... classy, right?!). Well I haven't worn a belly ring in 10+ years, but man does the pierced area do funny things while pregnant.<br /><br />I thought I would run down which products I've been using and what I like or dislike about them. I have no idea if they have really helped me, but even if they mentally helped me, that's good enough for me.<br /><br /><b><u>DREAMBELLY BUTTER</u></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuUM6BvmuCM/UOXaO3MNoXI/AAAAAAAABUw/r4qZqNQ6oEk/s1600/dream_belly_butter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuUM6BvmuCM/UOXaO3MNoXI/AAAAAAAABUw/r4qZqNQ6oEk/s320/dream_belly_butter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I received two jars of DreamBelly Butter, and I've used it daily since I was 20 weeks pregnant. Out of everything I've tried, it goes on the easiest and absorbs the best. It's also great because it doesn't leave you feeling oily, only moisturized. I used this every morning after getting out of the shower on my belly and boobs. After I noticed a couple faint stretchmarks appearing on my thighs, I started using it there too. This was my morning cream, since it didn't leave me feeling greasy (didn't want my clothes to end up greasy!).<br /><br />What I love most about this cream is that it is all-natural, and doesn't contain any parabens or phthalates (two things I tried to avoid using on my skin while pregnant). The fragrance is pleasant. It's not amazing, but it's nice and not overwhelming.<br /><br />I ran out of DreamBelly Butter about a week ago. Since I'm so close to my due date (11 days!), I decided not to restock. I'm starting to regret that decision, as my belly has been noticeably itchier since I stopped using it.<br /><br />Price-wise, it's not too bad. It's currently on sale over at <a href="http://www.fairhavenhealth.com/dreambelly-butter.html">Fairhaven Health</a> for $14.95/jar, plus free shipping. I definitely recommend this product!<br /><br /><br /><b><u>BURT'S BEES MAMA BEE BELLY BUTTER</u></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yR-LwlrsTa0/UOXdCRiQi4I/AAAAAAAABVA/dKlm-AfTKkE/s1600/BB_mama_bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yR-LwlrsTa0/UOXdCRiQi4I/AAAAAAAABVA/dKlm-AfTKkE/s320/BB_mama_bee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I'm a Burt's Bees girl. So, I had high, high hopes for this product. And it did nothing but disappoint.<br /><br />I can't say I used it for very long. The consistency and smell did nothing for me. The smell is... well, not good. It's not awful, but definitely not good. I can't even explain what it smells like. Close to nothing, with a hint of bad. Or sour.<br /><br />The consistency of the "butter" is really like a thin lotion. It did not leave me feeling as moisturized as I had hoped. And since I got the DreamBelly and this one at the same time, I quickly shelved the Mama Bee Belly Butter.<br /><br />The only upside to this one is that you may be able to find it at a Target or WalMart. And that's the only real plus. Unfortunately, I could not find it at my local stores, and ended up ordering it from Amazon.<br /><br /><b><u>BURT'S BEES MAMA BEE NOURISHING BODY OIL</u></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsSzwhkSKN4/UOXesFAIV5I/AAAAAAAABVQ/j2gTbrQt6rk/s1600/bb_mama_bee_oil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsSzwhkSKN4/UOXesFAIV5I/AAAAAAAABVQ/j2gTbrQt6rk/s320/bb_mama_bee_oil.jpg" width="148" /></a></div><br />Thankfully, Burt's Bees Mama Bee products didn't completely let me down.<br /><br />I love this oil! It has a really great, clean scent, and leaves you feeling incredibly moisturized. A little goes a long way, and a bottle lasts quite a while.<br /><br />The downside is that it is, well, oil. And so it leaves you greasy... which is why I did this one at night. I could let it air dry while I'm in bed reading, and don't have to worry about getting a shirt all greasy.<br /><br />Although I do love this oil very much, I'm not sure I would have used it on its own (without a belly butter). I liked having the combo of belly butter in the morning, nourishing oil at night. I felt like I was covering more of my bases that way.<br /><br />This product is also available at your local Target or WalMart, which is handy.<br /><br /><b><u>PALMER'S COCOA BUTTER FORMULA TUMMY BUTTER</u></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vbFutNu-Emk/UOXukXnUCCI/AAAAAAAABVg/EbqSE6Yggq8/s1600/palmers_tummy_butter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vbFutNu-Emk/UOXukXnUCCI/AAAAAAAABVg/EbqSE6Yggq8/s320/palmers_tummy_butter.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><br />This was a gift given to me at my baby shower. I didn't open it until I ran out of my Dream Belly Butter, because I was well-entrenched in my routine.<br /><br />Palmer's Tummy Butter is probably the most popular of butters. And the formula is impressive: collagen, elastin, and no parabens or phthalates.<br /><br />And it's an ok product.<br /><br />It's hard to apply. It's chunky and greasy. I have yet to apply it to my whole stomach. Wayyyy too much work. I use this on my boobs every day, though. Since that is where I have the most stretch marks, I figure I will concentrate this "Intensive Treatment" on the part of my body that is most heavily affected.<br /><br />The smell is just ok... nothing to write home about.<br /><br />I don't think I would purchase this product again. I'm glad it was given as a gift, though. Especially since I'm running low on all of these stretch mark butters/oils/creams.<br /><br />_____________<br /><br />In summary, next time around (if I'm lucky enough to be pregnant again), I will definitely use the DreamBelly Butter + Burt's Bees Mama Bee Nourishing Body Oil combo. And although I'm not sure that any of it has helped prevent stretch marks, staying moisturized and not itchy is imperative, especially so the bigger your belly gets. No one likes an itchy belly!http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2013/01/those-two-dirty-words-stretch-marks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-8159273218757082338Wed, 26 Dec 2012 22:39:00 +00002012-12-26T17:39:43.905-05:00pregnancy37 weeks... aaaaand I'm on bed restFirst of all, I hope all of you out there in blogland have had a wonderful holiday season.<br /><br />Buster and I had a great Christmas. He really spoiled me. He told me he did so because this is the last Christmas I'll be getting spoiled. Fair enough. But I'll gladly take some extra presents this year!<br /><br />In preparation of being "full term" at 37 weeks (yes, I realize that for some ladies it's not until 39 weeks, depending on baby's size, growth, etc. But I'm assuming that since Henry has been measuring ahead, it's safe to say I'm full term at 37), I purchased some red raspberry leaf tea and some evening primrose oil. Started both on Christmas Eve (37 weeks exactly), in hopes that they may aid in an easier labor. Probably won't, but I figured it can't hurt to try.<br /><br />Today I had a doctor's appointment before work. I am currently 37w2d.<br /><br />Right off the bat, my blood pressure was high (140/90). Not high enough for them to send me to L&amp;D, but high enough to take note.<br /><br />I peed in a cup, like I do every time, and brought it in the exam room. I noticed the nurse taking a little longer &nbsp;reading the results (usually they just look and toss), and comparing the stick to a bottle. Red flag, right?! So I ask her what's going on. I had some protein in my urine (+1 on the scale, to be exact). Now I'm not exactly sure what this means, but I can tell you this: I've never had protein register on those dipsticks before. Even when my last 24-hour urine catch came back with 310 protein, it wasn't registering on those little sticks.<br /><br />So today, it registers on the stick.<br /><br />The nurse then hooks me up for my scheduled NST. It lasted about 40 minutes, and during that time Henry was one active baby. His heart rate was good, as were his movements. And I was having contractions every 12 minutes.<br /><br />Maybe that's nothing, and my doctor didn't seem too concerned, but for a soon-to-be first-time mom, that sounds kind of... real. I only felt a couple painful cramps/twinges during the NST, and I'm assuming that's when the contractions were. I'm such a noob, I don't even know when I'm having a contraction.<br /><br />After the NST, my doctor comes in. He says he wants to check my cervix, but he doesn't expect much to be going on. He leaves, I undress from the waist down, and clumsily amble back up onto the table.<br /><br />Doctor returns with nurse. I lay back, expecting a speculum. Or some kind of instrument.<br /><br />Nope.<br /><br />Doctor jams his hand up in there.<br /><br />Um, OUCH. Fucking shit that hurt. He told me I might feel some pressure. If by pressure he meant excruciating pain, sure, I felt that. Now I know what it feels like to be fist.ed (yes, I broke that up on purpose. Don't need any pervs here!).<br /><br />In an amused and surprised voice, he tells me that I'm 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced.<br /><br />Holy shit!<br /><br />He then asks me how much I do around the house. How much I do at work. Then says,<br /><br />"Ok, well you are officially done working now."<br /><br />So he put me on bed/couch/chair rest. I can get up to pee, get something to eat, etc, but he doesn't want my seat getting cold.<br /><br />I'm also doing another 24-hour urine catch (my third of this pregnancy). Buster will drive me to the hospital tomorrow so I can drop off my piss, and also have some blood drawn to check my liver and kidneys.<br /><br />I go back to the doctor on Friday. My doctor said that if he had to induce me at that point, he wouldn't be heartbroken. Apparently I'm a good candidate for induction due to already being dialted/effaced. And that coupled with me being 37+ weeks, I guess that makes me induceable.<br /><br />So yes, it's been an eventful day!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">How far along?</span><br />37 weeks and 2 days today.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">How big is baby?</span><br />No clue! Babycenter says he weighs 6 1/3 lbs and is 19" long. I still think he's bigger, based on me measuring ahead. They did not do a fundal measurement today, so I'm pretty much in the dark here.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Weight gain?</span><br />Yes. And that's all I'm going to say about that.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Belly photos?</span><br />I've decided to take my weekly photo in the same shirt. This way it should be easier to tell if he officially drops, right?<br /><br />So, here is last week's photo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/36_weeks_zps635d98ac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/36_weeks_zps635d98ac.jpg" width="159" /></a></div><br />And today's photo:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/37_weeks_zps48713892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/37_weeks_zps48713892.jpg" width="159" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Cravings/Aversions?</span><br />Nope. Other than me wanting to eat every single Christmas cookie I can get my swollen, chubby hands on...<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sleep?</span><br />Not a great week for sleep. Several nights saw me up, tossing, turning, and restless. On one night in particular, I woke up when Buster came to bed at 1:30 a.m., and could not fall back asleep. I spent some time perusing Facebook on my phone, catching up on blogs, Googling, etc. Finally around 4 a.m. I start to get tired, and drift off. And then Kelsey wakes me up because she has to pee. Lovely. So I struggle out of bed and hobble to the back door and let her out. I crawl back into bed after and promptly fall fast asleep.<br /><br />Until 5 a.m., that is. When Buster wakes me up because I'm snoring. Which sends me into a rage. My rage in turn sets him in his own rage, and we yell at each other. Then he (pretty much instantly) falls back asleep. I lay there and cry. Then I fall asleep at 5:30 a.m. Only to be woken up one hour later by my alarm. Oh, fun.<br /><br />Yes, yes I know. Get used to no sleep. This is my body's way of preparing me. Etc, etc. But at least when Henry's here, I can look at his sweet little face and feel like at least there is an excellent reason that I'm awake! Instead I look at Buster's face, and contemplate smothering him with my pillow.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Symptoms [...of impending labor]?</span><br />I've had some pretty bad lower back pain the past couple of days. Wasn't sure if this was a labor sign or just a sign that I have bad posture.<br /><br />Been losing some plug each day, but not much, and none has been blood-tinged. Until today, that is. My cervical check left me bleeding and losing bits of bloody plug (hot, right?!).<br /><br />Had loose bowels today. I know that can be an impending labor sign... my body trying to clear itself out.<br /><br />And finally, been having Braxton Hicks that sometimes are accompanied by cramps and painful twinges. Most are not, but some are.<br /><br />So obviously labor will be happening sometime soon (my due date is 19 days away), but will it be sooner rather than later? Only time will tell at this point...<br /><div><br /></div><br />http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2012/12/37-weeks-aaaaand-im-on-bed-rest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-218360854465318348Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:31:00 +00002012-12-17T12:31:00.583-05:00pregnancy36 weeks<br />Spent a little time in L&amp;D this past weekend.<br /><br />Friday night I noticed some serious swelling and canklage happening (yes, I just made up that word) after an evening of doing nothing overly strenuous. Saturday morning, the swelling was still there. I had already planned to go Christmas shopping, so while I was out and about I decided to have my blood pressure checked at one of those free machines at Sam's Club.<br /><br />My first reading was 152/90. Hmmm, not so great. So, I decided to do it again. 139/97. And once more for good measure: 148/94. None of these are great and none of these are my "normal". So, I talked to Buster and he told me just to come home and put my feet up. And that's what I was going to do. But after thinking about it, I decided to call my doctor. At this point, I would rather be overly cautious than irresponsible.<br /><br />After talking to my doctor, he told me to come to L&amp;D to be monitored and just to make sure everything was ok. I go in, and they have to wheel me up in a wheelchair. It's protocol. Ugh. I kept apologizing to the girl, since I was definitely able to walk myself. Oh well.<br /><br />I get all checked in on the birthing floor, and head to a room. I get to put on a gown and hop in bed. They hooked up the NST monitors to my stomach and a blood pressure cuff to my arm, and monitored me for about an hour and a half. Henry looked great during this time! And apparently I also had three contractions. I only kind of felt one. It felt like really, really dull menstrual cramps. I couldn't feel the other two at all.<br /><br />My blood pressure readings started out on the higher side, but then dropped down to pretty much normal by the end of the monitoring session. They drew blood for labs to check my kidney and liver function (checking for signs of pre-eclampsia), and thankfully that came back normal. They then released me and sent me home with another jug for collecting my urine for 24 hours.<br /><br />The next day (Sunday), I brought my urine jug back to the hospital, and they hooked me up for another NST for about 25 minutes. Everything looked great, and I had one contraction during that time (it's just amazing to me that I can't feel them). They sent me home, and told me to follow up with my doctor by Tuesday.<br /><br />Luckily, I already had my 36-week appointment scheduled for this morning. They were planning on doing an NST, but after hearing about my weekend experience, it wasn't needed. My blood pressure was great today (128/74), and my doctor said he doesn't even know if he would categorize me as having pregnancy-induced high blood pressure (PIH) at this point.<br /><br />He did get the results back of my 24-hour urine catch, and my protein was 310. 300 is the cutoff for diagnosing mild pre-eclampsia, but my doctor did not seem concerned, considering my blood results were great over the weekend and my blood pressure was normal today.<br /><br />I go back in for my 37-week appointment the day after Christmas, and they'll hook me up for another NST. I'm also going to request a cervical check, just to quell my own curiosity.<br /><br />I did talk to my doctor about my birth plan. I told him that my goal is to go natural, and he was supportive. I also told him that I'm not going to rule out the epidural or other pain relief, but I'm just going to try to not have any. I also asked how he felt about the birthing tub, and he was just fine with me using one. And I mentioned delayed cord clamping, and he was fine with that too. So I feel good about my "plan".<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">How far along?</span><br />36 weeks exactly today.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">How big is baby?</span><br />Not sure! I'm guessing 7 lbs, but that's my uneducated guess, based off of the average weight-gain of a 1/2 lb a week for a baby at this point in the pregnancy. They didn't do a fundal height measurement at my 35-week appointment, nor at my 36-week appointment. So, it's a mystery!<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Weight gain?</span><br />Yep! Officially broke the 50 lb mark! Yikes! Really hoping that I lose 20 lbs after delivery!<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Belly photos?</span><br />Here is last week's photo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/35_un.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/35_un.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Cravings/Aversions?</span><br />Nope. Nothing note-worthy.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sleep?</span><br />Early this week, sleep was elusive. I came down with a bad cold, and the first couple nights were just brutal. The cold moved into my chest, so I was coughing a lot, and it hurt. I had major sinus pressure and pain, and was up every 45 minutes blowing my nose, coughing, readjusting, etc. But thankfully the cold is on its way out, and I am feeling closer to normal. I have slept pretty well the past couple of nights, knock on wood.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Symptoms [...of impending labor]?</span><br />It's funny how this category changes over the course of a pregnancy. I'm now going to use this category as symptoms of impending labor (hence the change in title).<br /><br />I'm having some major, major pressure in my lady parts. Getting out of bed is the worst. Such pressure and a bit of pain. I mentioned it to my doctor today, and he said that it's good, and means baby boy is doing what he needs to do (assuming that means sitting nice and low so I can squeeze him out??).<br /><br />Also, (TMI alert) I think I lost a dime-size amount of mucus plug. Yes, dime-sized. Can you tell I'm a first-timer? I'm excited by the littlest things.<br /><br />This may not have anything at all to do with impending labor, but I've noticed that Henry is way more active recently. I tell Buster that I think he's ready to come out and play! He really goes to town kicking and moving his butt around. It causes me to wince in pain at times, but I still love every second of it!<br /><br />And as you know from reading above, I've had some contractions. Last night I had some cramping that I think could have been a contraction as well, but I just don't know. I'm a noob!<br /><br />____________<br /><br /><br />Won't be long now! Four weeks exactly until Henry's due date, but I'll be considered full term on Christmas Eve. Buster thinks Henry will arrive by the 31st of December. I really don't have a feeling at all. Maybe I'll make a guess after my cervical check next week.<br /><br />____________<br /><br />http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2012/12/36-weeks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-5496908359044860658Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:42:00 +00002012-12-10T10:42:42.510-05:00pregnancy35 weeks<br />Before I get into the Q&amp;A portion of this post, an update on my high blood pressure and pre-pre-eclampsia is in order.<br /><br />When we last spoke, my doctors were convinced that my body was attempting to develop pre-eclampsia. I had several high blood pressure readings, protein in my urine (not the 300 cutoff for pre-e, but a near miss with 274), and pre-eclampsia seemed to be in my future.<br /><br />Since then, I've had one doctor's appointment, and several blood pressure readings at the nurse's station here at work. And I'm happy to report that things are going really well! I haven't had any higher-than-normal readings, which is great.<br /><br />At my appointment last week, they did an ultrasound and a biophysical profile on Henry. And Henry passed with flying colors... an 8 out of 8! I was 34 weeks at that appointment, and he was measuring two weeks ahead according to the ultrasound tech. She estimated him to be 5lbs14oz already! My amniotic fluid was aplenty, and no signs of pre-eclampsia.<br /><br />The tech also gave us this adorable photo:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Henry_34wks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Henry_34wks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby boy (and a really odd giant-worm-looking piece of placenta) at 34 weeks.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So all in all, it was a great appointment. And a good week. I go in this afternoon for my 35-week appointment. My doctor had mentioned that they may alternate biophysical ultrasounds and NSTs each week, so we'll see what happens today. They may opt to do neither if my blood pressure seems to be ok.<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">How far along?</span><br />35 weeks exactly today.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">How big is baby?</span><br />One week ago he was 5lbs14oz. If (big if, I know) that was accurate, I'm assuming he's up over 6lbs at this point. It certainly feels like he's that big. But I know guesstimating baby's weight in-utero is tricky business, so I'm not really banking on the estimates.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Weight gain?</span><br />The last time I looked at the scale at one of my appointments, I was up 46 pounds. Since that was over a week ago, I'm assuming I've now hit the 50-pound mark.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Belly photos?</span><br />Appears I've been slacking in posting some belly pics.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/32_weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/32_weeks.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/33_weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/33_weeks.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><br />And I didn't take an official 34 week photo, as we had our maternity photos taken last week! Here's a sneak peek that the photographer shared with me:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/mat_pic6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/mat_pic6.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">34 weeks - from my maternity photo shoot!</td></tr></tbody></table>And I can't not share a couple more from the photo session...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/mat_pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/mat_pic2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And maybe my favorite:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/mat_pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/mat_pic1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Cravings/Aversions?</span><br />Nope. But I have noticed that if I eat anything other than my Mini Frosted Wheats for breakfast, I have a severe dip in energy. So I don't think it's a real craving, but I make sure to have those damn rectangles of deliciousness every morning.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sleep?</span><br />Sigh.<br /><br />That's a pretty much sums it up.<br /><br />No more insomnia, thankfully. But now I just wrestle with getting comfortable. And that wrestling match lasts all night long. I toss and turn constantly. I check my phone clock often, and it ends up being about every two hours. Laying on either side for too long results in a numb/painful hip. Laying propped up on my back results in a painful lower back. Not really sure if I have any other options at this point. So I just roll and flop around and try to salvage any shut-eye possible.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Symptoms?</span><br />Not really too many to list. No more BH than usual (at least I don't think so...?). Increased discharge, but that seems to be normal at this stage in the game.<br /><br />I've noticed I'm a bit more hormonal recently than I have been this entire pregnancy. I guess that was bound to happen at some point.<br /><br />And I'm getting another cold. Lovely.<br /><br />Swelling in my feet hasn't been bad since the reallllly bad weekend after Thanksgiving (where my BP was through the roof as well). I've been diligent in propping my feet up when I can, and trying my best not to overdo it. My fingers still swell something fierce overnight. And hurt. After I get up and around, though, they start to feel better.<br /><br />But speaking of swollen fingers... I made a $10 splurge at Claire's this weekend, and bought myself a pretty sweet ring:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/CameraEffects-1142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/CameraEffects-1142.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$10 bling!</td></tr></tbody></table>Since I haven't been able to wear my wedding rings since 28 weeks, it's nice to not feel "naked". My normal ring size is 5.5. That ring you see in the photo is size 9! It's a bit big, but better slightly big than small at this point.<br /><br />http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2012/12/35-weeks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-2160724287011759012Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:27:00 +00002012-11-28T13:27:51.055-05:00pre-eclampsiapregnancymy body is trying to develop pre-eclampsiaApparently, my body wasn't overly impressed with my blog fodder as of late. So now it wants to give me something interesting to write about.<br /><br />Over the course of the past couple of weeks, my blood pressure has slowly begun to rise. But only sometimes. I've been having my blood pressure checked at the nurse's station here at work, and recording the results.<br /><br />It started out averaging about 130/80. That 130 was high for me, but it wasn't anything alarming. A couple times I had top numbers of 136 and 138, but my bottom number was ok.<br /><br />The weekend following Thanksgiving, Buster and I traveled out of town to visit my nursing-home-bound grandmother. I had some pretty severe swelling in my feet and ankles (which started the night prior to Thanksgiving) on Saturday morning, so I asked a nurse at the nursing home to take my blood pressure. It was 138/90, which is the highest it's been yet.<br /><br />The high-ish reading of my blood pressure coupled with the swelling (that wasn't going away overnight... I was waking up with Stay-Puft-Marshmallow-Man feet and ankles), I decided to call my doctor. He told me to take it easy and put my feet up. If it gets worse (not sure what "it" was... the blood pressure or swelling?) to call him and I may need to head to labor &amp; delivery. If it doesn't get worse, he wanted me to come in for an appointment on Monday, instead of my previously-scheduled Thursday appointment.<br /><br />After making a conscious effort to keep my feet elevated and an amazing massage by my occupational-therapy-grad-student cousin, the next morning I could actually see a tendon in my foot. And by Sunday night, I could see tendons AND veins! Progress!<br /><br />I felt silly even keeping my Monday appointment, but figured I might as well just go in. I peeked at the scale this time, and I'm up about 45 lbs total. Yikes. The stick dipped in urine was negative for protein, so that was a relief. And then it was blood pressure time... 138/98. The highest to date!<br /><br />When the doctor finally came in (about 15 minutes after my blood pressure reading), he did another blood pressure check. And it was still 138/98.<br /><br />Even though my urine was negative for protein, he instructed me to do a 24-hour urine catch just to be certain. The fun of collecting urine in a huge jug that needs refrigerated cannot be understated.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/CameraEffects-511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/CameraEffects-511.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jug o' urine, specialty brewery beer, Coke.</td></tr></tbody></table>I worked from home yesterday in order to refrigerate the jug. Yes, we have a refrigerator here at work, but even I'm not brave enough to handle that level of awkwardness. I took the jug to the lab yesterday afternoon, and was to follow-up with my doctor on Thursday morning at the appointment that was previously-scheduled.<br /><br />Except this morning he called me and left me a voicemail. The protein level in my urine was 274 mg. Anything over 300 mg is considered pre-eclampsia. He said if I didn't have any questions, he'd see me tomorrow.<br /><br />Well, of course I called him back. I asked him if 274 is high for someone who doesn't have pre-eclampsia, and he said yes. That normally that number hovers around zero. He thinks my body is trying to develop pre-eclampsia. But, they've only had one documented high blood pressure reading from me, so they can't even diagnose me with pregnancy-induced hypertension.<br /><br />He said there is a chance that my blood pressure will stay where it is, as well as my protein level. But he still wants me to come in tomorrow for another blood pressure check. Depending on the result, they would hook me up to the monitors (which I'm assuming means an NST?).<br /><br />So there you have it. Today I'm 33w2d. I really need this baby boy to bake until 37 weeks! That's not too much longer now, so I hope we can make it. And maybe this won't turn into pre-eclampsia after all, and Henry will continue to bake until his due date. It's a mystery at this point.http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-body-is-trying-to-develop-pre.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2614900991111270710.post-4574327405620685699Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:33:00 +00002012-11-16T14:33:09.619-05:00pregnancy31 weeks<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">How far along?</span><br />31 weeks! Ok, well actually 31w4d, but close enough, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">How big is baby?</span><br />According to Babycenter, Henry is over 16" long and weighs about 3.3lbs. At my appointment yesterday, he was measuring 32 weeks via fundal height. So much for him measuring two weeks ahead! Apparently he's done being huge. But, then again, I saw a new person yesterday (a midwife instead of my normal doc), and she was young. Younger than me. Which is fine... I mean, you have to start somewhere, right? But when she was attempting to find my sternum, she never actually pressed on it. She pressed around it, and then measured my fundal height. I found that to be curious. I wish I would have had my appointment with my same doctor, in retrospect, just to see how he would have measured my fundal height.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Weight gain?</span><br />No idea.&nbsp;I didn't look at the scale yesterday at my appointment. I'm boycotting it, actually.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Belly photos?</span><br />Here are my 30 and 31 week photos...<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/30weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/30weeks.jpg" width="196" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No longer do we have an empty wall in the nursery! Got the bookshelf put together :)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/31_weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/khartman22/Henry/Belly%20pics/31_weeks.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And yet another improvement... picked up the yellow canvas drawers for the bookshelf.</td></tr></tbody></table>As you can see, I'm trying my best to live in comfy clothes. Although work makes that difficult. I peel off my work clothes as soon as I get home, and throw on the yoga pants instantly. Ahhh....<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Cravings/Aversions?</span><br />Nothing new. Although due to the recent Hostess news, I find myself really wanting a Twinkie...<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sleep?</span><br />Well, thankfully I haven't had any real bouts of insomnia since last week. Although, my new thing is waking up every 30 minutes to change positions. Maybe every 30 minutes is an exaggeration, but it certainly feels that often. After one particularly shittastic night, I felt like a zombie the next day. I forced myself to stay up an extra hour until 11 p.m. the next night in hopes that I could pass-the-fuck-out. And it actually worked! So I've been staying up until 11 now, but I'm finding myself wanting to sleep in an extra hour in the morning because of it. And that's no bueno for me getting to work on time.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Symptoms?</span><br />First, thanks for all the comments and advice after my last weekly post! I actually implemented several of the suggestions.<br /><br />I'm still battling the reflux, but Tums have helped tremendously! Last week was the first time I've ever purchased those little suckers, and man, they really work wonders!<br /><br />Other than that, I've noticed that my energy seems to be dwindling a little. Nothing too extreme, but enough that I can tell.<br /><br />And finally, I've been having some serious joint pain in my fingers. I wake up, and my hands just feel...arthritic. I don't actually know what arthritis feels like, but I imagine it feels like this. Every joint in every finger is sore. As the day goes on, they get better, but still a bit...off. I googled, and it seems this is normal due to increased fluid at night while you sleep. It's more annoying than painful, to be honest. So I guess I can deal. But... I got Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 this past week, and I'm worried how my fingers will do for a long stretch of gaming. I haven't had time to break it out yet, but this weekend I plan to put in a couple hours. If my fingers allow it, that is.<br />http://unaffectedbyyou.blogspot.com/2012/11/31-weeks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (unaffected)7